Adeola Michael Dahunsi, an ocean scientist, says Nigeria is yet to fully harness the benefits that come with its water bodies. 

Speaking on Wednesday during a webinar themed ‘Understanding the Blue Economy in the Nigerian Context’, Dahunsi said through a wave energy converter system, ocean waves can be intercepted and converted into power.

He added that with wave strength now waned, the erosion of coastal areas will also reduce.

“The good thing about the ocean is that it’s always there. The strength is seasonal but one big problem we see in the Gulf of Guinea is the problem of coastal erosion,” Dahunsi said.

“Take advantage of wave energy. The wave is coming into an open coastline, nothing to protect it. When we want to protect it, we destroy our beautiful beaches. They put up rocks. That’s cheaper for the government because they’re just interested in protecting the land and preventing the sea from taking over the roads.

“The ocean does not flow like rivers; it transfers energy. The wave is generated by wind and because of climate change, the waves are stronger nowadays.

“Put up wave energy converters. For a country like Nigeria, it’s a double win. Energy that would have gotten to the coast and caused coastal erosion is now converted to power. It will help reduce the erosion of coastal erosion and help with power generation.”

Dahunsi, who has an interest in ocean observation and modelling, also advised the government to ensure sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth.

He said the ocean resources should be exploited in ways that ensure self generation without significant depletion.

“…taking value from the ocean and coastal areas in a way that the future generations benefit from it, not pay for the consequences,” he said.

“You have to invest in the blue economy before you make money out of it.”

He listed coastal and marine tourism, maritime transport, marine biotechnology, and seabed mining (for gold and diamonds) as other areas of the blue economy that the government can tap into to generate revenue.

Dahunsi also said with the stretch of coastline in Lagos, water transportation should be a big thing in the state.

“It’s a way to reduce our carbon footprint as a city,” he said.

“The blue economy holds immense potential for Nigeria’s growth and sustainability. Addressing challenges through coordinated governance and policy frameworks is crucial.

“The ministry of marine and blue economy plays a pivotal role in unlocking this potential. Collective efforts are needed to foster a sustainable and prosperous Blue Economy”.

The webinar was organised by Nudge Initiative as part of its capacity building for Nigerian youths through the Blue Economy Youth Advocacy (BEYA) project.

[TheCable]

In the last two days, my social media feed has been suffused with impassioned expressions of grief and outrage from Nigerians over a putative June 28 agreement that the Nigerian government has signed with the European Union to legalize LGBTQ+ rights in the country in exchange for a $150 economic package.

It turned out that a July 4 Daily Trust titled “LGBT: Knocks As Nigeria Signs $150 Billion Samoa Deal” might be the source of the cultural and social anxiety that Nigerian are expressing about Nigeria becoming an “LGBTQ+ nation,” as someone put it on social media. 

Unfortunately, the Daily Trust story failed to cite the portion of the Samoa agreement that mandates Nigeria to change its laws to accommodate LGBTQ-friendly policies. It based its headline and entire story on an unnamed report without even citing evidence from the report. 

“The agreement reportedly has some clauses that compel underdeveloped and developing nations to support the agitations by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community for recognition, as condition for getting financial and other supports from advanced societies,” it wrote.

The paper then proceeded to fish for people who would express fury and consternation over a piece of information that it hasn’t originally seen, and these expressions of fury and consternation created a self-reinforcing loop. We call this circular reporting.

Circular reporting, also called false confirmation, occurs when a source contrives a piece of information, repeats the information to multiple sources in the form of interviews (in the case of journalism), and then cleverly passes off the views of the interviewees as the original source of the information. It’s basically creating something from nothing.

I read the 12-page agreement titled “The Samoa Agreement with African, Caribbean and Pacific States” that is posted on the website of the European Parliament. There is no obligation in the agreement that requires African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries adopt LGBTQ+ rights.

However, page 2 of the document states, “The chapter on human rights should explicitly list the forms of discrimination that should be combated (such as sexual, ethnic, or religious discriminations) and mention sexual and reproductive rights.”

Even so, there is an admission in the document that several countries, including European Union members, are resistant to enshrining “sexual rights” in their legal codes. 

On page 5, for instance, we see the following: “As of 22 November 2023, however, 30 OACPS members, mostly African and Caribbean, had failed to sign…. Some leaders explained they wanted to check whether the agreement would be compatible with their legal order, notably as regards same-sex relations and sexual health and rights. 

“This move surprised several commentators, as the wording on these topics does not go beyond existing international agreements…) and was agreed after years of negotiation; in addition, the agreement includes the possibility for the signatories to make interpretative declarations or reservations.”

Again, page 8 of the agreement notes that not only African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries but also some European Union members resisted being bludgeoned into agreeing to LGBTQ+ rights.

It says, “While the parties will commit 'to promote, protect and fulfil all human rights be they civil, political, economic, social or cultural', some ACP states were reluctant to see the foundation agreement mention sexual orientation and gender identity (LGBTI rights) – an issue on which there are also differences among EU Member States.

“As a matter of compromise, the parties will commit to the implementation of existing international agreements – notably the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action on sexual and reproductive health and rights, the Beijing Platform on gender equality and their follow-up (negotiated agreement, Article 36). The wording however falls short of the EU negotiators' ambitions,” the document says.

Further down on page 9 of the document, it was made certain that the European Union was unable to universalize the merit of protecting sexual health. “Access to sexual and reproductive health services and information will be promoted – without further details, as the parties have varying views on this concept.”

In other words, although the European Union did want to get countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific to embrace an expansion of the notion of human rights to include sexual minorities, they got a sustained pushback, not only from them but also from some European Union members. 

The only rights that Nigeria and other countries agreed to in the Samoa Agreement are the rights they have already been signatories to for years such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action, and the Beijing Platform.

Plus, a provision in the agreement, which states that countries that signed the agreement have the latitude to “make interpretative declarations or reservations” about controversial issues means that they can understand “sexual discrimination” in ways that suit their cultural peculiarities and existing laws.

Anyone who takes the trouble to actually read the 12-page agreement would know that our lazy, stenographic news media ecosystem has merely created a storm in a teacup. In addition to the reality that the cultural soil in Nigeria is too inhospitable for the seeds of LGBTQ+ rights to germinate, much less flourish, no halfway sane Nigerian politician would risk irrecoverable political, social, and symbolic self-diminution by signing an agreement that violates an existing domestic law, i.e., the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, and that causes extreme anxiety in a cultural conservative country like ours.

In all this, my major worry is that Nigerians waste precious emotions and expend tremendous amounts of energy over issues that are really of no consequence to their everyday lives but look away when threats that smolder their souls and annihilate their very existence confront them. The World Bank and the IMF routinely give loans to Nigeria and attach punishing conditionalities to them.

The removal of subsidies on everything, the devaluation of the naira, the shrinking of expenditure on education and health, etc. are some of the conditions these evil institutions attach to the loans. Someone close to people in power told me a few days ago that Tinubu’s resistance to the IMF’s insistence that he increase petrol price has dissipated and that it’s a matter of when, not if, he’ll approve a price increase of over N1,000 a liter.

When that happens, people will merely grumble, thicken their skins, make peace with their suffering, and move on. So long as LGBTQ+ people have no rights, so long as our religious and cultural values are respected, it doesn't matter if the IMF and the World Bank instruct our leaders to murder us piecemeal. 

That’s why people in positions of power will perpetuate their dominance of society and sustain their oppression of the people intergenerationally. They know that most people are governed by their emotions, not their intellect, by their hearts, not their heads.

 The day Nigerians are as engaged and as enraged as they are about this non-existent LGBTQ+ conditionality in a European Union economic package as they are about the IMF’s and the World Bank’s conditionalities that ensure that our people continually live at the subhuman level is the day true liberation will start. 

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 Nigeria election, Peter Obi, has congratulated the United Kingdom Labour Party and their leader, Keir Starmer, for recording a historic victory in Thursday's election in that country.

Reacting to the victory on his X handle on Friday, the LP standard bearer expressed hope that the incoming Prime Minister will follow through on the campaign promises that made UK voters support him.

"I sincerely congratulate Mr. Keir Starmer and the Labour Party UK on the landslide victory they recorded in Thursday's election.

"May the victory translate to a better and new chapter for all UK residents as you remain committed to your electoral promises.

"I also hope that your government will promote stronger ties between the UK and Nigeria, and help in deepening our democracy, especially during these challenging times. Nigeria is grappling with issues such as insecurity, education, healthcare, and poverty, and could greatly benefit from the support of the UK.

"Let us work together to build a brighter future for all."

•His last interview with Taiwo Obe

Tam Fiofori, who passed away on Tuesday, 25 June 2024, at 82, will miss this. Jamaica’s fiery sprints squad at the upcoming Olympics Games in Paris would have kept him on the phone, confirming schedules, reliving moments of athletic apogees, and making predictions of which Jamaicans would shake the world.

Fiofori was a former long jumper, which explains the bounce in his steps. He was an athletics buff and set the pages of The Guardian aglow with his crisp reports and photogenic images that foretold the sprint dominance of “My Jamaicans Gals,” as he titled one of the stories.

The story was told 41 years ago at the inaugural World Athletics Championships in Helsinki, Finland, 7-14 July 1983. Despite winning just three medals — one gold by Bert Cameron in 400m, a silver medal by Merlene Ottey in 200m, and a bronze medal in 4×100 m from the team of Leleith Hodges, Jacqueline Pusey, Juliet Cuthbert, and Ottey — Jamaica showed it had a bright future in athletics.

Grace Jackson, a prominent figure in Helsinki, won a 200m silver at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul behind Florence Joyner of the US. Jackson’s marriage to Hugh Small, Jamaica’s minister of industry, commerce, and production, in 1990 shortened her athletics career. She quit the sport two years later, at 31.

At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Cuthbert won silver medals in 100m and 200m, and Ottey won a 200m bronze. The Jamaican Girls phenomenon continued with Ottey leading the charge. Ottey won two silver medals (100 m and 200m) and a relay bronze at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Four years later, Jamaican Girls won five silver medals in Sydney, and Ottey won a silver and a bronze.

Ottey, one of the world’s most decorated athletes, led the era of brilliance and longevity of Jamaican female athletes, being named Jamaica Sportswoman of the Year 13 times in 23 years of racing for Jamaica and another 10 years for Slovenia.

When Ottey retired at 52, she had logged nine Olympic medals, 14 World Championship medals, and others at the Commonwealth Games and major international events. An Olympic gold eluded her. Ottey was 36 at the Atlanta Olympics when she lost the 100m gold to American Gail Devers, though both clocked 10.98 seconds.

Fiofori’s “My Jamaican Gals” was a parody of Grace Jones’ 1981 hit, “My Jamaican Guy,” a tribute to Sly Dunbar, whose pelting of drums in ways only he could, left his touch on most reggae hits of the time. Now, 72, Sly is still at it. He revolutionised drumming across different reggae bands before computers colonised the role. Jones warmed her way to filling more dance floors in more spots globally with “Pull Up To The Bumper,” from “Nightclubbing,” the 1981 album, still rated as number two in her repository 43 years after its release.

A lot of Fiofori was about music. He started his journalism career as a freelancer in 1965 because he cherished his independence, according to an interview with Taiwo Obe in a 2023 interview. Fiofori reviewed music and arts for international publications in England and the US, where he also schooled.

Musicians impressed him if they were literate. He explained that literate musicians could read music, write music, teach music, and play different instruments. The top Nigerian musician for him was Peter King, who met the criteria. In addition, King ran a music school in Badagry, where more than 2,000 students passed through his guidance. Asa was among them.

Fiofori would often say, “Nigerians don’t know PK. If they did, they would respect him. He won international awards for his jazz and Afro music decades before people filled every space with noise”. PK passed on in 2023.

Brodaa Tam, as I called him, was sad at the scant recognition King received, in life and in death, for all he did for music. He was the one who drew my attention to King’s death, wondering why it was not in the papers.

On Sunday, Nduka Irabor asked me, “Tam Fiofori gone? And the news is not in all the papers?”.

Fiofori was a student when he met Peter King, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Wale Buckor, and Adams Dagogo Fiberesima in London. The quartet was studying music at Trinity College, which was a school of the University of London. He was well-acquainted with them, and they remained friends until they all transited before him.

Back at The Guardian, where Fiofori was sending loads of pictures to Sunny Ojeagbase (may the Almighty rest him), the sports editor, each package that arrived from Helsinki gave the newspaper, just months on the streets, an advantage that matched The Guardian’s advertisement, “Sooner or later, you will read The Guardian.” It was sooner.

We stole glances at the pictures as Ojeagbase held them with respect fit and proper for sacred objects. When they were finally splashed on the newspaper, they were at sizes unknown in newspapers then. Ojeagbase created the magazine effect for sports pages. “These pictures cannot be wasted,” Ojeagbase would say. He was spoilt for choice.

If photography were a religion, Fiofori would have been its faithful priest, not striving for titles or positions. This priest smoked and drank his beer with a quietitude that could make you a convert or, if you were already one, lead to renewals of the bottles as you discharged them into your waiting throat.

Once he starts with, “Let me tell you this”, usually prefaced with your name, to get your maximum attention, you would be at the feet of a raconteur who would take you on a compressed trip round the world with stops at major global arts capitals, or where film festivals held. Sports were not excluded.

During our 1987 trip with Nigeria’s athletics team to Burkina Faso, he was as enticed by the egregious young jumper George Ogbeide, more known as Lakayana, who had boasted he would break the national record, as much as arranging his participation in the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, FESPACO, an annual, international film event that has respected a place in the global calendar. Lakayana would win the National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA, long jump gold in 1991. The NCAA is the zenith of American university sports contests.

Fiofori’s films and documentaries were heavy on the devastation of the Niger Delta, culture, and music genres across Nigeria. He was good with words and his work. His best boast was to remind a gathering, “shoe get size”. He was right.

Cast in the general neglect and scorn Nigeria has for the creative industry, Fiofori and his generation got minimal attention as they searched for resources to maximise the reach of their works. He was mainly a self-funder of his works, though there were commissioned ones.

A simple man who lived for over 40 years in the same Surulere house that he cluttered with his works at varied stages of completion, I would walk in gingerly, careful not to step on a piece of history in some form or format. Before taking a seat, I would wait for him to clear some pictures he was working on overnight.

I guess the volume of work in that apartment, their security in the order he arranged them, and the uncertainty of how they would fit elsewhere hugely accounted for his long stay. He was not one to meet when he was angry. “Get this done before I blow my…top,” he would charge over delays in completing his productions, rising mannerlessness, or poor electricity, which often wore him out. I left out the expletive, which came sparsely for someone who lived in Harlem in the nuanced sixties.

Fiofori grew up in Benin City, where Emmanuel, his father, taught at Edo College, but he was from Okrika, Rivers. He attended King’s College, Lagos, and later King’s College London for higher education.

Anthony Kila writes that from all available indices and opininion poll, it’s better for the United States President, Joe Biden to withdraw his candidature for re-election into the White House during the November, 2024 presidential race

Dear President Biden,

Today’s epistle concerns the current electoral process in the United States of America. I dare write to you because, like many others, I believe that what happens in America affects the rest of the world. 

The epistle is directed at you because you are the centre of our reflections. 

The message to you today is to consider withdrawing your candidacy. The request and suggestion are not given with ease, let alone with glee because I believe that overall, you have been a good president. However, in the name of principle that we both hold dear, it is better to tell you in unambiguous terms that I believe it is time to go. 

The reasons for my suggestion and how you can announce your withdrawal are in this suggested speech that I have termed as an imaginary speech by you: 

My dear fellow Americans and lovers of democracy worldwide, I speak to you today as the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party and as President of the United States of America, a great country and land of opportunities, a beacon of hope for many and a standard of democracy for all. 

Our country is about to embark on elections slated for November 2024. The stakes are high, and those elections can shape the future of America and the world as we know it. 

In America, we have an important choice to make and a crucial question to answer: Do we give the number one position in America to a man who is a self-serving liar, bully and narcissist and allow those who think it is okay to disregard and disrespect all we stand for or allow hope and peace, respect and honesty, liberty and progress to continue. 

I know Donald Trump; I debated and defeated him four years ago. Together, we stopped him from destroying our country and corrupting the world even when he desperately violently tried to destroy our age-long democratic institution for his reckless and blind ego, pure personal material interests and his innate inability to play by the rules. 

That victory allowed us, in the last four years, thanks to an inclusive team of diverse, talented and dedicated Americans, to recuse the economy and change the course of the pandemic, put more people to work than any time in the history of the USA, rebuild our infrastructures across the country, lower the costs of every day expenses for most Americans, produce more in America and expanded benefits and services for toxic exposed veterans like it has never been done in the history of America. 

Now, there is a man who is clearly a danger to democracy and unworthy of the public trust going about the country spreading lies, fear and hatred, trying to deceive people into giving the key to the White House to serve his unhealthy and immoral interests and to destroy most promising things we stand for. Donald Trump is breeding a dangerous mindset and rearing a scary set of people who think it is OK to hate, lie, cheat and insult others. We must not allow that to happen. 

Like many fellow Americans, I understand what is at stake, and we know how to stop this looming danger of hatred, recklessness, selfishness, tyranny, and opportunism. 

As I did four years ago to stop Donald Trump, I have put myself forward again for the benefit, hope, and legitimate aspirations of the many against the immoral interests of the few. That is what democracy is about, and this is what our America is about. Democracy is about equality, hope, and transparency. 

In my heart, I can still do it; with your support, we can fend off this manipulator and continue the great things we started four years ago. 

I know there are concerns about my age and vigour, but I disagree; I feel strong and capable. However, I will suspend my candidacy and allow my party to consult and represent a candidate for president of the United States of America. I will suspend my candidacy not out of fear or weakness but of love for our nation and democracy. 

My suspension, which is not done lightly, will show Americans of today, those unborn and the rest of the world that in America, there are leaders who are not in politics for themselves but for the love of the nation and democracy and that when we say we listen, we genuinely listen. 

The election is not about me. I have been privileged to serve my nation and democracy for decades in many capacities, and I have always done so patriotically and with dedication to the common good. That will never change. 

I want you, my fellow Americans, and the world to know today that democracy is to be served, loved, and protected, not exploited for selfish interests, hatred, fear, and divisions like Donald Trump is trying to do in every step he takes and every word he utters. 

It is heartbreaking to see that too many Republicans do not have the clarity of mind and courage of voice to vigorously denounce the menace and bag of deceit called Donald Trump, even after they have seen and heard him show his disregard for everything good about our democracy. I salute those who have done so. History will be kind to them for their efforts and courage to stand up for our nation and democracy. 

Democracy is love for humanity, respect for the law, and hope in the people. This vision tells us that even when we think we can serve if truly serving is all we want to do, it does not have to be us and just us in the commanding position. 

Love for humanity means we must always consider the concerns of our fellow human beings; hope in the people means we must trust not only the people’s vote but also believe that someone else is good enough among our people since we all abide by the rule of law. That is why we must all come together to fend off anyone who does not show love for humanity or hope in our people regardless of their colour or creed and does not demonstrate respect for the rule of law. 

I call on all people of goodwill today to put aside our partisan differences and understand that for democracy and liberty to continue to thrive, we must all stand together against deceit, indecency, and immoral ambition and for the rule of law, freedom for all, tolerance, and decency. 

Join me on Twitter @anthonykila to share your thoughts, ask questions, and continue these engaging conversations. 

• Prof Kila is a Director at the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies.

Africa and Nigeria saw mixed outcomes in 2023 amid a slight global decline in foreign direct investment (FDI).

Africa’s FDI inflows dropped by 3% to $53 billion, while Nigeria and other African countries experienced a varied landscape of investment activities.

These is according to the World Investment Report 2024 prepared by a team at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Despite the overall decline, the number of greenfield projects in Africa rose by 7%, with over 800 projects announced.

These projects have the potential to generate an additional 200,000 jobs across the continent.

What the data is saying

According to the report, Nigeria attracted $1.87 billion in FDI in 2023 up from $895 million in 2022 but down from $3.3 billion. Latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics reported Nigeria generated $3.9 billion in 2023 out of which just $377 million.

In Nigeria, the government’s focus on attracting greenfield investments, especially in renewable energy, bore some fruit. The country introduced new fiscal and non-fiscal incentives aimed at encouraging investments in renewable energy.

This move aligns with similar initiatives in Italy and South Africa, which also adopted measures to boost renewable energy investments.

• Nigeria’s investment landscape was marked by significant green hydrogen projects, such as the $34 billion green hydrogen project in Mauritania and green ammonia and hydrogen projects in Egypt worth $10.8 billion.
• These projects underscore Africa’s growing share of global megaprojects in the renewable energy sector. Additionally, three energy producers announced green hydrogen projects in South Africa totaling $7.1 billion, while Morocco attracted substantial investments in the same sector.
• However, the value of greenfield projects announced in Africa fell to $175 billion from $196 billion in 2022. The most significant year-to-year increases in project value were seen in chemicals, rising to $13 billion, and electronics, reaching $7.6 billion.
• Conversely, project values for electricity and gas supply projects dropped by $33 billion compared to 2022, contributing significantly to the overall decline in greenfield values.

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) Investment Protocol, adopted in 2023, is expected to contribute to growing intraregional FDI.

The share of intraregional projects is higher in services and selected manufacturing industries, with 20% of projects by African investors, than in resource-based processing industries, with only 13% of projects originating from the region.

• This indicates a substantial pool of investors within the region for some sectors and an opportunity to expand intraregional investment in processing industries to increase value addition.
• Despite the decline in FDI inflows, Africa remains a significant destination for international project finance deals, although the estimated value of such deals fell by 50% in 2023 to $64 billion.
• Industries related to renewable energy and power generation registered large drops in both values and numbers. However, momentum continued in some parts of the sector.

For instance, an investor group announced a deal for green hydrogen production totaling $4 billion in Egypt, and another group planned a $2 billion hydrogen project in Morocco.

Additionally, Africa attracted $10.8 billion in project finance for wind and solar electricity production, with the largest projects located in Egypt, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Global Review

Globally, foreign direct investment decreased marginally by 2% to $1.3 trillion in 2023. This headline figure was affected by significant fluctuations in financial flows through a few European conduit economies. Excluding these conduits, global FDI flows were more than 10% lower than in 2022.

• The global environment for international investment remains challenging in 2024, with weakening growth prospects, economic fracturing, trade and geopolitical tensions, industrial policies, and supply chain diversification reshaping FDI patterns.
• These factors are causing multinational enterprises (MNEs) to adopt a cautious approach to overseas expansion.
• Despite these challenges, MNE profit levels remain high, financing conditions are easing, and an increase in greenfield project announcements in 2023 could positively impact FDI. Modest growth for the full year appears possible.

International project finance and cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) were particularly weak in 2023. The value of M&As, which predominantly impact FDI in developed countries, fell by 46%. Project finance, crucial for infrastructure investment, dropped by 26%.

• Developed countries saw a strong impact from MNE financial transactions, partly due to moves to implement a minimum tax on the largest MNEs.
• FDI flows in Europe jumped from negative $106 billion in 2022 to positive $16 billion due to volatility in conduit economies.
• However, inflows to the rest of Europe were down 14%. Inflows in other developed countries also stagnated, with a 5% decline in North America and significant falls elsewhere.
• FDI flows to developing countries fell by 7% to $867 billion, mainly due to an 8% decrease in developing Asia. In Latin America and the Caribbean, FDI remained flat.

Despite these declines, the number of greenfield projects in developing countries increased by 15%, with values climbing by 20%. This partially offset declines in international project finance deals, which fell by 26% in number and 31% in value.

[Nairametrics]

Muharram is the Muslim’s first lunar month in the Islamic calendar.

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, on Friday, declared Monday, July 8, 2024, as a public holiday to commemorate the new Islamic year.

Adeleke, in a statement released through the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Rasheed Aderibigbe, and published on the Ministry of Information bulletin on Friday, stated that the holiday is to allow Muslims in the state to celebrate the new Islamic year.

The statement added that Governor Ademola Adeleke would preside over a special parade/March session as part of the activities to celebrate the new year.

While wishing Muslims a happy celebration, the governor charged them to use the period to pray for the unity and peaceful development of the state and Nigeria in general.

The statement reads, “The public holiday graciously approved by His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke is to allow Muslim faithful to celebrate and pray for peace, progress and development of the state and Nigeria as a whole.

“Governor Adeleke wishes all Muslim faithful a happy celebration of the new Islamic year, Hijrah 1446 AH.”

Other states that have declared Monday as a public holiday are, Kebbi, Oyo, Kwara

[NaijaNews]

Nigerian music star, Olubankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, has enrolled for master’s degree in policy at Georgetown University, Washington D.C.

Banky W disclosed this in a post via Instagram on Friday.

The singer turned politician admitted that he “gave up” being a chief executive at a company to become a student again.

He wrote: “Gave up being a CEO to become a student… because sometimes, you have to let go of what’s Impressive to gain what’s important.

“Currently pursing a Master’s in Policy at Georgetown University in Washington DC. The Journey of faith continues. Please wish me well,” he wrote.

His wife, Adesua Etomi, commented on the post informing the public that he had been getting straight A’s

“I just want everyone to know that my husband is a true efiko and has gotten A’s so far. I’m soooo proud.”

“I am DEEPLY INSPIRED by you and I’m not saying this cause I’m your wife. If I wasn’t your wife, I’d be Jealous of your wife. You are the exact kind of man that impresses me. My honourable,” she said.

A follower, @uniquecheezy, wrote, “It’s never too late to make your goals happen. Here is a reminder to anyone seeking to pick up on an endeavour ?. Congratulations.”

Another follower, @bello2886 said, “I no even hear anything but just watching you gesticulate, I don learn a lot. A true inspiration fr.”

[DailyTrust]