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WeForGood, IHS Nigeria Boost Youth Enterprises with $250,000 Grant

From left: Yejide Aina, CEO, The Illuminator Academy; Oluwatoyin Aralepo, Director, Corporate Excellence & Programme Mgt, IHS Nigeria Ltd; Cima Sholotan, Director, Sustainability and Corporate Communications, IHS Nigeria Ltd; Martin Abraham, Asst Director, Training & Development, IHS Nigeria Ltd; Temitayo Ade-Peters, CEO, WeForGood International; Ireayo Oladunjoye, Head Startups, LSETF and Sandra Iheanacho, Human Resources Consultant at the UN World Youth Skills Day Conference themed “Promoting Eco-Focused Solutions, Africa’s Pathway To Sustainable Growth” held in Lagos at the weekend

A Lagos based non-governmental organisation, WeForGood International, through the support of organisations such as IHS Nigeria, has disbursed N104 million to viable eco-friendly sustainable enterprises owned by young African entrepreneurs between 18 and 35 years.

This was disclosed last weekend in Lagos by the Chief Executive Officer of WeForGood, Ms. Temitayo Ade-Peters, during the 2022 Sustainable Solutions Africa Project Conference to mark the United Nations’ World Youth Skills Day with the theme “Promoting Eco-Focused Solutions Africa’s Pathway to Sustainable Growth.”

Ade-Peters said: “In the past three years, through our fellowship programme, we have directly supported close to 60 African startups with training and coaching and facilitated over $250,000 to promote sustainable solutions on the continent.

“We’ve reached about 1,400 youths and entrepreneurs exploring skills for impact to further scale their reach. The start-ups we support run for-profit and not-for-profit businesses addressing one or more areas of the SDGs.”

She said that the conference was focused on innovative solutions that addressed SDG-focused environmental challenges and to provide strategies that would help youths to harness and maximise their skills and talents in response to the increasing call for climate actions, adding that “every young person here will leave this conference well inspired to embrace and explore opportunities to build a sustainable Africa.”

She said that enterprises that qualified for funding from the organisation must be economically viable and have eco-solutions projects that would enhance environmental sustainability.

She also said that “through the support of IHS Nigeria, we have opportunity for young people to get up to N3 million to support their individual projects” that could be used to create sustainable solutions to solve Africa’s problems.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), HE, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, in her special remark during the conference said that the participation of youth in the advocacy for a real shift is essential in order to combat climate change.

Orelepe-Adefulire said: “Government, private sector and civil society must all look towards young people, as we aim to strengthen both formal and informal education on climate change and viable lifestyles. In addition, sustainable production and consumption patterns must be promoted and supported by the youth as environmental champions in their local communities.”

She added that “we are partnering with UNDP to launch six SDG Innovation Hubs across the country which will prioritise the engagement of young people as catalysts for innovative technical, technological and business solutions to help us accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.”

A panelist during the conference, who is also a Human Resources Consultant, Mrs. Sandra Iheanacho, said that education is very essential to produce young Nigerian entrepreneurs that would become job creators.

Iheanacho said: “To take care of tomorrow we have to prepare by taking care of the education of our youths that are capable to create jobs.”

The Chief Executive Officer of The Illuminator’s Academy, Ms. Yejide Aina, who was among the panelists during the conference, said that Nigerian youths need quality educational curriculum that would equip them with innovative and entrepreneurial capacity to create economic opportunities in the country’s economy.

Another panelist who is the Head, Startups, Lagos Innovates LSETF, Ms. Ireayo Oladunjoye, tasked young entrepreneurs to acquire skills that would imbue them with leadership skills to influence their environment.

The Director, Corporate Excellence and Programme Management at IHS Nigeria, Ms. Oluwatoyin Aralepo, advised the young entrepreneurs to base their entrepreneurial development on three leadership ladders of personal vision, higher standard and influence.

Aralepo said: “Leadership has to be strategic and patient to be able to carry all members of the team along to achieve the group’s objectives.”

Apart from the intellectual discussions that gave participants a rich time of learning and networking opportunities, the conference, anchored by the delectable Woli Arole, also featured other side attractions such as entertainment, quizzes and raffle draws with amazing gifts such as laptops, home gadgets among others won by attendees.

Interested participants can register to apply for the next cohort of the Sustainable Solutions Africa Fellowship Program for free by visiting this link https://bit.ly/SSAfricaFellowship2022 and more information is available on WeForGood’s website: www.weforgood.org.

LIRS Set To Launch Whistle-Blower Initiative August 5

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) is set to launch its Whistle-Blower initiative, a state-wide project, introduced to provide a platform for employees, stakeholders and the general public to report any observed violation, misconduct, or unethical behaviour across the state on Friday, August 5, 2022.

In a public notice signed by the LIRS Executive Chairman, Ayodele Subair, the Whistle-Blower initiative is a public policy of the State Government to encourage reporting of illegal actions or financial crimes, through the appropriate channel, with a view to correcting the violations or non-compliance.

According to the LIRS boss, “In line with the LIRS core values of integrity and accountability and our commitment to uphold the highest standards of openness, probity and accountability in our dealings with stakeholders, the platform is anonymous and confidential and it is independently managed by Deloitte, a globally accredited company.”

“The objective of the Whistle-Blower initiative is to guarantee transparency, accountability, and confidentiality to all taxpayers and stakeholders in general.

“The policy is designed to protect whistle-blowers from victimization and to encourage them to freely report without fear,” Subair submitted.

The launch of the Whistle-Blower initiative is scheduled to take place at the Protea Select Hotel, Assibifi Road, Alausa-Ikeja, Lagos.

Suspected Ritualists Kill 65-Year-Old Woman, Remove One Eye

Osun State Police Command on Tuesday said the corpse of a 65-year-old woman, declared missing in Ilesa, was found on her farm with one of her eyes plucked.

SP Yemisi Opalola, Osun Police Spokesperson in a statement, explained that the daughter of the deceased reported the discovery of her mother’s corpse to the police.

She said, “At about 1.00 p.m on Monday, One Dare Oluyemi of Odundun Area Ilesa reported that her mother, Oluyemi Tunmise, 65, who the family had been searching for since Saturday, had been found dead.

“She said her mother was found dead with one of her eyes removed by yet-to-be-identified assailants on her farm at Fadahunsi Area of Ilesa, at about 11.30 a.m on Monday.”

Opalola said the police had visited the scene of the crime and had taken photographs.

She said the complainant that reported the incident and the other children of the deceased, however, refused the police to take the body of their mother to the mortuary or carry out further investigation.

She said they threatened to unleash violence and that they wished to bury the corpse.

Biden Reacts As US Army Kills Osama Bin-Laden’s Deputy In Afghanistan

The United States army has successfully conducted a counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan leading to the killing of the emir of al-Qa’ida: Ayman al-Zawahiri.

The US President, Joe Biden, announced this in a national address.

Biden claimed that al-Zawahiri served as deputy and number 2 to Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 attack on US soil that took the lives of over 2,000 people in one-day.

He said that US intelligence showed that the target planned the attack against US alongside Bin Laden.

Writing on his Facebook page on Tuesday morning, Biden vowed that no matter how long it takes, the US will continue to ensure that justice is served against all enemies of the state.

He wrote,” On Saturday, at my direction, the United States successfully conducted an airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan that killed the emir of al-Qa’ida: Ayman al-Zawahiri.

“Justice has been delivered.

“The United States continues to demonstrate our resolve and our capacity to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm.

“No matter how long it takes.
No matter where you try to hide.
We will find you.

“I made a promise to the American people that we’d continue to conduct effective counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan and beyond.

“We have done that.”

2023: Atiku Makes Fresh Appointment

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has made a fresh appointment.

Naija News reports Atiku appointed Ms. Lynne Bassey as Special Assistant on Gender Issues and Women Advancement.

The appointment is in furtherance of his commitment to women and youths empowerment, his media adviser, Paul Ibe told our newsroom via a mailed statement on Monday.

The statement noted that “Ms. Bassey is an alumnus of both University of Calabar where she is currently pursuing a Doctorate degree in Development Sociology and the Pan Atlantic University, Lagos Business School.

“Her appointment as Special Assistant will make the fifth to be announced by the PDP presidential candidate in the past few weeks.”

It added that “Ms. Bassey’s appointment is in keeping with the promise by Atiku Abubakar to reserve a good percentage of his appointment, if elected President, for women and youths.”

The appointment is effective 1st of August, 2022.

JUST IN: veteran Juju Musician, Ebenezer Obey loses son

Olayinka Olalekan, son of veteran musician Ebenezer Obey, has died at age 48.

According to The Nation, Olayinka died on Friday.

The cause of his death is yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

The deceased was interred on Saturday.

With more than five decades of active singing, Ebenezer Obey is internationally recognised for evolving a unique juju sound from highlife music.

An evangelist by calling, Obey lost his wife of 48 years Lady Juliana Obey-Fabiyi at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on August 23, 2011.

She was aged 67.

Tinubu, Lawan, Dangote, others storm Maiduguri for Shettima’s daughter’s wedding

Fatima, daughter of the 2023 APC vice presidential candidate and former Governor of the state, Senator Kashim Shettima, married Sadiq Ibrahim Bunu, son of former FCT Minister Ibrahim Bunu, in a grand ceremony in Borno on Saturday.

President Muhammadu Buhari was represented by the Chief of Staff to the President (COS), Professor Ibrahim Gambari.

The wedding Fatiha took place at the palace of Shehu of Borno, His Eminence, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai Umar El Kanemi.

The former governor of Bauchi State and former PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, stood in as the father of the groom, Architect Ibrahim Bunu, while Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State stood in as the father of the bride, Senator Shettima, with a dowry of 12 gold coins.

The wedding Fatiha was administered by the Chief Imam Idaini of Borno, Shiekh Shettima Mamman Sale.

Other dignataries at the event were the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno (Rted) and 2023 APC presidential candidate, Senator Bola Tinubu.

Others are business moguls, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Alhaji Mohammed Idimi, the President, Idimi Group of Companies, and Chairman Oriental Energy Resources Ltd, and Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, the Chairman, Max Air limited.

How 62-Year-Old Woman Paid N10m To Gistlover To Drop Apostle Suleman Story – Mr Jollof

Popular Nigerian comedian, Mr Jollof has alleged that a 62-year-old woman on behalf of Apostle Johnson Suleman paid a popular blogger the sum of N10m to shut down his s3x scandal.

Recall that Naija News earlier reported that the blogger had released a list containing names of some Nigerian actresses and BBNaija stars, claiming they are all romantically involved with the Apostle.

But the clergyman while preaching during a crusade in his church challenged the blogger to come out openly, boasting that he would shut down the blog.

The list contained names such as Shan George, Lilian Bach, Iyabo Ojo, Ruth Kadiri, Mercy Johnson, Chinyere Winifred, Larriet Omo Brish, Vivian Metchie, Georgina Onuoha, Ini Edo, Joy Ogbunu, Angel Okorie, Mary Uranta, Queen Nwokwoye amongst others.

Speaking on the list, Mr Jollof took to his Instagram page to slam the blogger for revealing the list after getting paid N10m.

The comedian subsequently gave the face behind the blog a seven days ultimatum to refund the money as he also vowed to expose the blogger with evidence of all the payments he has received as bribe.

He spoke at length through a video which he captioned: ‘Gist Lover na Bandit for social media !!! Abeg refund the 10million them pay you Abeg because you crop out the place when you say you no Dey refund !!! So we know your next move Abeg because we all go open our yansh like Uncle Bob.’

Tinubu congratulates Daniel Okoh, new CAN President

All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, extends his personal congratulations to Rev. Daniel Okoh, on being the newly-elected president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Rev. Okoh was elected on Monday to succeed the highly respected Rev. Samson Olusupo Ayokunle, upon completion of his tenure as head of CAN.

Asíwájú Tinubu noted that the new CAN leader who is the General Superintendent of Christ Holy Church is a worthy successor to Rev. Ayokunle whose tenure as CAN president was one characterized by exceptional commitment, principle and wisdom.

Asiwaju Tinubu said: “I congratulate Rev. Okoh on his election as the new president of CAN. Noting that Rev. Okoh had truly distinguished himself as the deputy to Rev. Ayokunle.:

The APC leader declared that Nigeria can only expect nothing but inspired and enlightened leadership from Rev. Okoh.

“CAN is one of the most important organizations in the nation. Not only does it seek the betterment of the Christian community in Nigeria, its moral force and standing benefit all Nigerians as we seek to establish a just and compassionate society where people of all faiths and beliefs live and work together in peace and harmony.

“As a nation, we are in a critical moment where misguided and terrible actors attempt to destroy social harmony and reign violence on us all. These awful forces seek to stoke religious and ethnic divisions in hope of pitting Nigerian brother against Nigerian brother. Decent and good Nigerians of all faiths must ally again such designs. While we may not agree on everything, all well-meaning Nigerians agree that we must live in peace, must respect and honor our diversity and eschew violence and hatred.

“We are grateful that CAN as an organization embodies these and other principles that reflect the values and virtues of Christ. We are glad that the new President of CAN, Rev. Okoh, is a humane and kind soul who has dedicated his life to the betterment of his fellow man and is a person who will work with leaders of other faiths and beliefs to anneal the bonds of unity, inter-religious understanding and tolerance while advocating for the benefits of democratic good governance for all Nigerians regardless of creed or belief systems.

“As long as we stand forthright and adhere to these tenets, Nigeria will defeat the plans of those who seek to place discord and hatred at our door.
As Rev. Okoh assumes the mantle of leadership, it is my hope and prayer that his tenure brightens every corner of our country and may he be a shining light to all.”

JUST IN: Documentary On Terrorists: FG Threatens To Punish BBC

Following its documentary on how terrorists hold sway in some parts of the country, the federal government has said it will punish the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammad, gave the hint in Abuja on Thursday even as the National Security Council meeting is underway.
THE WHISTLER had reported that the 50-minute long BBC documentary titled ‘The Bandit warlords of Zamfara’, was undertaken by Yusuf Anka, a journalist who crisscrossed remote bandit enclaves in the state.

It featured Abu Sanni, a self-confessed bandit kingpin, who showed the station around, pointing out that insecurity has become a business everyone benefits from.
Sanni confessed that he helped mastermind the abduction of students of Government Girls Secondary School Jangebe, Zamfara in an interview by the BBC Africa Eye in a forest in Zamfara.

Angered by the documentary in the face of increasing terrorist attacks even in Abuja, the minister said, “Let me assure you, they will not get away with this naked glorification of terrorism and banditry in Nigeria.”

He lamented that, “When otherwise reputable platforms like BBC give their platform to terrorists, showing their faces as if they’re Nollywood stars… I want to assure them that they won’t get away with it, the appropriate sanctions will be meted.”