Author: Vardiafrica

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, a prominent business executive and socialite, wanted in connection with an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering. In a statement released on Friday by Dele Oyewale, head of media and publicity for the EFCC, the anti-graft agency urged the public to provide information regarding Achimugu’s whereabouts. The EFCC also published her location in Maitam Abuja. The 51-year-old executive, a native of Kogi State, is accused of facilitating the illicit transfer of funds during the 2023 general elections. According to multiple reports, Achimugu is suspected of funneling…

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to collaborate with relevant agencies to enhance the study of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. This initiative is part of TETFund’s strategy to position the country as a leader in AI on the African continent. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday, TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Sonny Echono, highlighted the organization’s efforts to support AI development through various initiatives, including the scaling up of textbook production and the establishment of ICT centres. These efforts aim to help Nigeria tap into the global…

Heirs Holdings Founder and Group Chair, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, has been appointed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to its Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth, convened by IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva. Elumelu, Africa’s leading advocate of entrepreneurship and whose Foundation has funded, mentored and trained over 25,000 African entrepreneurs since 2015, champions entrepreneurship as the engine for the economic transformation of Africa. A self-made entrepreneur, Elumelu’s embracing of entrepreneurship is fundamental to his concept of Africapitalism, his belief that Africa’s private sector can and must play a leading role in the continent’s development, making long-term investments, that…

Nigeria’s President and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has applauded President John Mahama’s visit to the three Sahel nations, emphasising that his diplomatic efforts aimed to improve the security landscape in the Sahel region and foster economic opportunities across West Africa President Tinubu commended his Ghanaian counterpart, John Mahama, during a meeting at the State House in Abuja on Thursday. This followed Mahama’s briefing to the ECOWAS Chairman regarding his diplomatic efforts with the military junta leaders of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, aimed at addressing regional security and stabilit Further…

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has engaged in discussions with the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gautier Mignot, in Abuja on a strategic €1.3 billion investment portfolio package in Nigeria on Wednesday. This was contained in a post on X (formerly Twitter) by the Federal Ministry of Finance on Thursday. According to the post, Ambassador Mignot highlighted the EU’s position as Nigeria’s largest trading partner and a top source of foreign direct investment (FDI), proposing the establishment of a structured trade and investment dialogue framework to enhance collaboration in critical sectors such…

The House of Representatives has reversed its earlier decision to advance a bill that would strip the Vice President, Governors, and Deputy Governors of constitutional immunity. The abrupt U-turn came on Thursday after Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere moved a motion to rescind the decision, effectively halting further progress on the proposed legislation. The bill, sponsored by Rivers lawmaker Solomon Bob, had initially scaled through the second reading during Wednesday’s plenary session presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu. It aimed to amend Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, removing the immunity clause that shields these top officials from prosecution while…

The Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has sworn in Prof. Ibibia Lucky-Worika as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), tasking him with the responsibility of leveraging his vast experience to enhance governance in the state. The swearing-in ceremony, held on Wednesday evening at the Executive Chambers of Government House, Port Harcourt, marked a significant step in the administrator’s effort to stabilise governance and restore public trust in Rivers State. In his address, Retired Vice Admiral Ibas emphasiSed that Prof. Worika’s appointment was not just an administrative decision but a strategic move to reinforce the…

The 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, has announced the cancellation of this year’s Sallah festivities, including the traditional Durbar, due to security concerns. In a broadcast on Wednesday, he expressed regret over the decision but emphasised that safeguarding the lives and property of Kano residents remains his top priority. “Following the people’s mandate bestowed upon us and our commitment to their protection, we find it necessary to withdraw any arrangements made for the Sallah celebrations given the current situation,” he said He acknowledged the importance of the Durbar tradition but insisted that it should not come at the…

US President Donald Trump has said he would consider a reduction in tariffs on China if that country’s government approves a sale of TikTok’s operations in the United States. ByteDance has an April 5 deadline to find a non-Chinese buyer for TikTok or face a U.S. ban on national security grounds that was supposed to have taken effect in January under a 2024 law The law is the result of concern in Washington that TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance makes it beholden to the Chinese government and that Beijing could use the app to conduct influence operations against the United States and collect…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), filling existing vacancies and strengthening the board’s capacity. The approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN). President Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Mazi Sam Azoka Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum (NCCF), and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.…