Author: Vardiafrica

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has agreed by consensus to reappoint Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General for a second four-year term, set to begin on 1 September 2025. This decision reflects broad recognition of her exceptional leadership and strategic vision for the future of the WTO. The reappointment process, initiated on 8 October 2024, was overseen by Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, Chair of the General Council. With no additional nominations submitted by the 8 November deadline, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala stood as the sole candidate. The process was conducted in a fully open and transparent manner, adhering…

In the absence of his lawyers, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Friday, declined to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), to arraign the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. Bello was scheduled to enter his plea before trial Justice Emeka Nwite, on another 19-count charge that bordered on his alleged complicity in an N80.2 billion fraud. When the matter was called up, none of the lawyers representing the former governor, was in court. Notwithstanding the development, EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged the court to allow the defendant who had already mounted…

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that the enemies of the state who plotted a black Christmas for the people of the state failed in their bid due to the determination to put first the interest of Rivers. He also said that his administration has resolved to meet its obligations as a government, and does not have any intention to inflict pain on Rivers people. The Governor explained that rather, he has continued to fight like gallant soldiers would do, to protect the State from enemies who hatchet plans and schemes daily to halt governance and create chaos…

President Bola Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron exchanged lighthearted greetings on social media on Thursday, with both leaders communicating in pidgin English. Tinubu arrived in France on Wednesday evening for a state visit. After a meeting on Thursday, Macron reminisced about his days at the French embassy in Nigeria as an intern. Writing on X in Nigerian Pidgin, an English-based creole language spoken as a lingua franca, the French president gushed over Tinubu’s visit. “Na big honor for France, dear President Bola Tinubu @officialABAT, to welcome you for dis State visit as one big partner and friend of today and tomorrow,” Macron…

Access Bank Plc. has announced the completion of its acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank, in Angola, and in Sierra Leone. The deal was announced July 14,2023, according to regulatory filing on Nigerian Exchange. Mr Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Bank Plc disclosed this in a notification sent to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) in Lagos on Wednesday. Ogbonna said: “We are pleased to have successfully concluded two important acquisitions in Angola and Sierra Leone. “This affords us synergies to strengthen the quality of our earnings from both countries by significantly growing our share of the Corporate…

Buoyed by the ranking as Nigeria’s top performing organisation in efficiency and transparency from 2022 to date, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has unveiled plans to mark the 2024 World Anti-corruption Day on Thursday, 5th December at the Nigerian Content Tower, Bayelsa State. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Effective Whistleblowers Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight against Corruption,” and the celebration at the NCDMB is organized by the agency’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACTU) led by the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu. According to the programme of event, the day will be…

Votes are being counted in Namibia in what could be the most competitive election since independence from white-ruled South Africa 34 years ago. The poll was marred by logistical issues with voting continuing for an unscheduled second day on Thursday in some areas. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is seeking to become the country’s first female president. She is the candidate of the governing South West Africa’s People’s Organisation (Swapo), to replace Hage Geingob, who died in February after nine years in office But high unemployment, poverty, inequality and corruption allegations have eroded support for the party. Nandi-Ndaitwah’s main challenger is Panduleni Itula…

THE TERTIARY Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced the immediate suspension of its foreign scholarships to academic staff of tertiary institutions across the country. While implementation of the new policy is with effect from January 1, 2025, academic staff who are already enrolled in foreign institutions will continue to draw down on the sponsorship up to the end of their respective programmes. The announcement, contained in a circular to all vice chancellors of universities, rectors of polytechnics and provosts of colleges of education, dated November 25, 2024, is personally signed by TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono. Arc. Echono cited higher…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has performed the inaugural harvest of its Rice and Cassava Farmers Empowerment Programme at Warrake in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State. Speaking at the first harvest at a rice farm in Warrake, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, described the event as a significant day in the history of agricultural programmes in the Niger Delta region. Ogbuku, represented by the NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Winifred Madume, expressed delight at the young farmers’ enthusiasm for boosting food production.He declared: “This farm’s success is significant because it has adopted full…

 President Bola Tinubu said on Thursday Nigeria is “open for business” as he embarked on a state visit to France, with Paris looking to boost ties in English-speaking Africa following a series of setbacks with former allies on the continent. The 72-year-old president met with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, during the first official state visit by a Nigerian leader in more than two decades. Advertising Macron, 46, who has sought a “renewal” between Paris and Africa since his 2017 election, said his country will “continue to invest” in Nigeria, at a time when France’s influence on the continent is…