Factsheet: Federal Government’s Efforts to Ensure the Safe Return of the Dapchi Girls
Background:
On February 19, 2018, 110 girls were abducted by suspected Boko Haram militants from the Government Girls’ Technical School, Dapchi in Bursari Local Government of Yobe State.
By February 21, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari reacted to the abduction of the school girls, by directing the military and police to mobilize immediately and begin rescue efforts.
On February 22, 2018, a Federal Government delegation led by Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed, visited Dapchi, Yobe State to fully support and collaborate with the Yobe State Government, on rescue plans.
In response to the recent incident, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) deployed air assets, including Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, to the Northeast in a renewed effort at locating the missing Dapchi girls.
On February 26, 2018, a Federal Government delegation, led by Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed, visited Yobe State for the second time to meet with state government stakeholders and get update on the search for the 110 missing girls.
At the meeting, the Minister announced that the Federal Government has directed all security agencies in Yobe State to deploy their personnel to schools in the state to ensure students and staffers’ safety. He also added that security agencies are working on many leads on the location of the girls.
On February 26, 2018, following the need for more in-dept search operations, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) deployed additional air assets, to conduct day and night searches for the missing girls. By 6pm, the Nigerian Air Force had flown a total of 200 hours conducting searches for the missing girls.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar relocated to Yobe state on February 27, 2018, to personally superintend the search for the missing Dapchi girls.
On February 28, 2018, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Lt General (Rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, directed the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris and the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC), Abdullahi Mohammad Gana to relocate to the northeast and liaise with the theater commander of operation Lafiya Dole, the Governors of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states to ensure the deployment of their personnel to all schools in the liberated areas in the three states.
On March 2, 2018, the search for the missing girls was extended to the neigbouring countries. A statement to this effect was released by the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed.
The Federal Goverment has officially released the names and details of the 110 missing girls to the general public as it continues its search efforts.
As of March 21, 2018, 107 out of the 110 missing Dapchi girls (105 Dapchi school girls and 2 others) were officially documented to have been released by the Boko Haram insurgents. The girls were promptly put under medical care while the remaining number of girls were being accounted for. Full press release to this effect can be sourced HERE
On March 23, 2018, the President officially received the released Dapchi schoolgirls at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He made his address at the meeting which can be sourced HERE
The Nigerian Air Force has urged the locals and anyone who might have useful information on the location of the girls to contact the NAF authorities using the following tip lines:
08035733438
08172843484
08058419128
The Federal Government urges everyone to remain calm as they step up efforts to locate the missing girls. A detailed press statement on Federal Government’s response is HERE
Press Release: 101 Freed Dapchi Schoolgirls Now Documented – FG
The number of the Dapchi schoolgirls who were released on Wednesday has increased from 76 to 101, with the documentation of more of the freed girls by the security agencies, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister said the number could still increase, as the documentation of the freed girls is ongoing.
He said the release of the schoolgirls is the outcome of the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to all security agencies to do everything possible to secure the release of the 110 Dapchi schoolgirls, who were abducted 19 Feb. 2018.
The Minister said the girls were released around 3 a.m. through back-channel efforts and with the help of some friends of the country, and that it was unconditional.
”For the release to work, the government had a clear understanding that violence and confrontation would not be the way out as it could endanger the lives of the girls, hence a non-violent approach was the preferred option.
”Within the period when the girls were being brought back, operational pause was observed in certain areas to ensure free passage and also that lives were not lost,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Federal Government Delegation comprising Ministers of Information and Culture; Interior as well as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs are on their way to Maiduguri to meet with the freed girls.
Segun Adeyemi
SA To Hon Minister of Information and Culture
Abuja
21 March 2018
Press Release: Dapchi Update: Search for Dapchi Girls Extended to Neighbouring Countries – FG
The ongoing search for the 110 girls who were abducted from the Government Girls Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, Yobe State, has been extended to the neighbouring countries, the Federal Government has announced.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said top military and security officials on Thursday travelled to the North-east to add more urgency to the search, which has now been extended beyond the North-east theatre.
The officials include the nation’s top military officer and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; Chief of Army Staff; Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Alhaji Lawal Daura.
They joined the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who had earlier relocated to the North-east, as well as the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (Rtd), who has also visited the theatre.
The Federal Government had earlier released the names and other details of the 110 girls who have yet to be accounted for, following the attack on the GGSTC, Dapchi, Yobe State, on 19 Feb. 2018.
The panel set up by the Federal Government to unravel the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the girls was inaugurated on Thursday by the NSA.
Segun Adeyemi
SA To Hon Minister of Information and Culture
Abuja
2 March 2018
Factsheet: Federal Government’s Efforts to Ensure the Safe Return of the Dapchi Girls
Background:
On February 19, 2018, 110 girls were abducted by suspected Boko Haram militants from the Government Girls’ Technical School, Dapchi in Bursari Local Government of Yobe State.
By February 21, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari reacted to the abduction of the school girls, by directing the military and police to mobilize immediately and begin rescue efforts.
On February 22, 2018, a Federal Government delegation led by Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed, visited Dapchi, Yobe State to fully support and collaborate with the Yobe State Government, on rescue plans.
In response to the recent incident, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) deployed air assets, including Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, to the Northeast in a renewed effort at locating the missing Dapchi girls.
On February 26, 2018, a Federal Government delegation, led by Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed, visited Yobe State for the second time to meet with state government stakeholders and get update on the search for the 110 missing girls.
At the meeting, the Minister announced that the Federal Government has directed all security agencies in Yobe State to deploy their personnel to schools in the state to ensure students and staffers’ safety. He also added that security agencies are working on many leads on the location of the girls.
On February 26, 2018, following the need for more in-dept search operations, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) deployed additional air assets, to conduct day and night searches for the missing girls. By 6pm, the Nigerian Air Force had flown a total of 200 hours conducting searches for the missing girls.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar relocated to Yobe state on February 27, 2018, to personally superintend the search for the missing Dapchi girls.
On February 28, 2018, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Lt General (Rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, directed the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris and the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC), Abdullahi Mohammad Gana to relocate to the northeast and liaise with the theater commander of operation Lafiya Dole, the Governors of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states to ensure the deployment of their personnel to all schools in the liberated areas in the three states.
On March 2, 2018, the search for the missing girls was extended to the neigbouring countries. A statement to this effect was released by the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed.
The Federal Goverment has officially released the names and details of the 110 missing girls to the general public as it continues its search efforts.
The Nigerian Air Force has urged the locals and anyone who might have useful information on the location of the girls to contact the NAF authorities using the following tip lines:
08035733438
08172843484
08058419128
The Federal Government urges everyone to remain calm as they step up efforts to locate the missing girls. A detailed press statement on Federal Government’s response is HERE
Press Release: FG Says 110 Dapchi Girls Unaccounted For, Steps Up Rescue Efforts
The Federal Government has confirmed that 110 students of the
Government Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State, are so
far unaccounted for, after insurgents believed to be from a faction of
Boko Haram invaded their school on Monday (19 Feb. 2018).
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
announced the figure after a meeting between a Federal Government
Delegation and representatives of key stakeholders, including the
state government, the college, the parents, security agencies and
Bursari local government, where Dapchi is situated, in Damaturu on
Sunday.
He said, based on the briefings from the Principal of the College,
Hajia Adama Abdulkarim, and the state Commissioner for Education, Hon.
Mohammed Lami, 906 students – out of whom 110 have not been accounted
for – were in the school on the day of the attack.
Alhaji Mohammed also announced that the Federal Government has
directed the police and civil defence authorities in Yobe State to
immediately deploy their personnel to all the schools in the state in
order to ensure the security and safety of the students and their
staffers.
The Minister disclosed that the Federal Government has stepped up
efforts to rescue the girls and return them safely to their parents,
saying the security agencies are working on many leads regarding the
whereabouts of the girls.
”This is the second time in four days that a Federal Government
delegation would visit Yobe State since the unfortunate incident. This
is a measure of the seriousness with which we are addressing the
issue. The security forces are leaving no stone unturned in their
search for the girls.
”We are back here in Yobe as part of efforts to provide some succour
to the parents of the girls, to let them know that they are not alone
and also to reassure them that we will not rest until we have found
the girls. We will carry the parents along on the efforts we are
making,” he said.
For his part, the Minister of Interior said the delegation embarked on
the trip in order to get the facts right ”so that the approach to the
solution can be correct”.
”We must get back the girls and also ensure that this does not happen
again,” he said.
The Federal Government delegation, which comprised the Ministers of
Information and Culture as well as that of Interior, Lt.-Gen.
Abdulrahman Dambazau (retired), held an enlarged meeting that was
attended by Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State; members of the
state cabinet, the Principal and Vice Principal of the school,
representatives of the parents of the missing girls and security
agencies, among others.
Segun Adeyemi
SA To Hon Minister of Information and Culture
Damaturu, Yobe State
25 Feb. 2018
85th NEC Meeting on February 15, 2018
A. FINAL REPORT ON FORENSIC AUDIT OF REVENUE ACCRUED FROM REVENUE GENERATING AGENCIES
Council received the final report on the Forensic Audit of Revenue Accrued from Revenue Generating Agencies (RGAs) into Federation Account (FA), Excess Crude Account (ECA) and Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
The report was prepared by KPMG, and audited 18 Agencies including NNPC, FIRS, Nigeria Customs Services (NCS), NIMASA, NPA, NCC, CBN, DPR, NPDC and many others.
The report covered period January 2010 – June, 2015
Key Issues and Recommendations:
The report observed several cases of under-remittance and a few over remittance in some cases both by identified agencies. There were also late remittances into the various accounts. It therefore recommended that:
NEC should decide on repayment plans for all concerned as well as stepping up oversight function on the relevant agencies to ensure remittance as and at when due.
Recommended the proper and regular auditing of the accounts of the RGAs and those of the FG.
There is also the need for annual review of the agencies.
Council Resolutions:
Council received the report and resolved that the Ad-hoc NEC Committee on the matter be expanded to include a lawyer and an accountant. The Committee would study the KPMG report and the recommendations and report back to Council at its next sitting for possible adoption.
The Federal Government officials including the CBN Governor, the Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning and Minister of State, Petroleum Resources would join the expanding Committee to also take a look at the report for FG’s review.
B. UPDATE ON THE SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME BY THE SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT ON THE SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
The Special Adviser to the President on the Social Investment Programme (SIP), briefed the Council on the impact of the National Social Investment Programme (N-SIP). Highlights of the presentation include:
Total Direct Beneficiaries from all the SIP Programme is 7,812,201
Secondary Beneficiaries – 1,500,000, mainly farmers and cooks
Total actual spending in 2016 and 2017 = 15.58% of the budget
The Council was further briefed on the general challenges facing the smooth delivery of the N-SIP. They include:
Corrupt practices in the States – (short-changing, racketeering and harassment of beneficiaries)
Exploitation of the vulnerable (due to poor levels of literacy);
Monitoring and communication (insufficient awareness/publicity) and logistics for monitoring yet to be secured.
Steps to Overcome Obstacles:
N-SIPs is collaborating with various Organisations within and outside the Government to overcome the challenges in the areas of; Monitoring and Security, Sensitization, Communication.
Support/Intervention from State Governments
The N-SIPs requires State Government support as follows:
Micro-Credit scheme under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP)
States to support in fraud detection and prevention by local officials.
States to support the GEEP loan programme mobilization and facilitate the generation of BVN and the opening of accounts.
Loan recovery from beneficiaries.
Home Grown School Feeding Programme
States to fast-track commencement of programme by signing MoU.
Re-train and re-screen cooks.
Strengthen Monitoring and Evaluation.
National Social Safety Net
States need to demonstrate commitment for the programme to kick off.
Ensure a conducive working environment and commitment to an objective and transparent community-Based Targeting Process.
Support in form of security and fraud detection.
Cash Transfer Programme
States to provide furnished accommodation and logistics as agreed.
Provide security, caution politicians and fast-track Community Based Targeting.
Youth Employment and Empowerment Programme
States to support communication efforts where necessary.
Support monitoring efforts to ensure beneficiaries are resuming and working full time at assigned locations.
Show increasing better commitment to the programme.
C. INTERIM BRIEFING ON NEC’S WORKING GROUP ON HERDSMEN/FARMERS CLASHES
The Vice President reported that the Group has met twice and formed a technical Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee has been given the assignment of consultations with some of the affected communities.
The Sub-Committee is chaired by Ebonyi State Governor and the NEC Working Group will give a fuller report at the end of the work of the Sub-Committee.
The Vice President also reported that the Working Group has noted the need for joint Military-Police Operation to manage violent outbreak where required while also calling for more efficient intelligence gathering.
The Working Group also calls for the use of the Military force to flush out bandits whose activities have been linked to the clashes, and engagement with traditional leaders to foster peace in their communities.
Working Group also noted that an Agro Rangers Corps should be trained to provide security around ranches, livestock production centres and grazing routes.
The Working Group also noted that the land use laws and regulations invest the States with the power over land titles and use while the Vice President added that the FG will not impose on State Governments. FG will only share templates on best practices for the conduct of livestock production and business.
The Vice President also informed that the President has approved the formation of a Committee to look into the issue of rebuilding affected communities and providing welfare and other facilities as may be considered appropriated.
The President has asked that the Vice President head the Committee.
D. PRESENTATION BY GMD, NNPC ON PMS SUPPLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND COST OF UNDER-RECOVERIES BORNE BY NNPC
The Group Managing Director, NNPC, briefed the Council on the PMS supply and cost of under-recoveries arising from difference between importation cost and PPPRA cut off market price.
He told Council that the PMS open market price is continuously shaped by crude oil price volatility in the international market with the attendant cost under-recoveries due to differential between actual supply and distribution.
He informed that favourable market conditions encouraged private participation by Independent Marketers in Nigeria between May – September 2016.
There is currently sudden decline in private participation in Nigeria due to decline in favourable market conditions and also the sudden shock in consumption which over stretches daily supply of petroleum products.
E. REPORT ON EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT (ECA)
Council was briefed by the Accountant General of the Federation that the balance in ECA as at 14th February, 2018 stands at $2,317,252,449.57.
F. REPORT ON BALANCE OF THE STABILIZATION FUND ACCOUNT
Council was also briefed by the Accountant General of the Federation that the balance in the Stabilization Fund Account as at 14th February, 2018 stands at N11,290,664,060.06.
G. UPDATE ON NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT FUND
Council was equally briefed by the Accountant General of the Federation that the balance in the Natural Resources Development Fund as at 14th February, 2018 stands at N123,624,644,411.24
H. UPDATE ON BUDGET SUPPORT LOAN FACILITY
The Accountant General reported to the Council as follows:
23 States have access to the facility
N16.1 billion has been disbursed as at January 2018.
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity)
Office of the Vice President
15th February, 2018
Press Release: Niger Delta: 10 Modular Refineries Reach Advanced Stage, 2 Ready To Ship In Equipment, Ogoni Clean-Up Record Progress
The Buhari administration is committed to promoting the establishment of privately financed modular refineries so as to increase local refining capacity, create jobs, ensure peace and stability in the Niger delta region, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
The initiative which featured prominently in recent talks between the Federal Government and the oil-producing areas, as represented by PANDEF, will also reposition the petroleum industry and ensure self-sufficiency of petroleum products, while serving as a disincentive for illegal refineries and oil pollution.
At an end-of-the-year review meeting of the Niger Delta Inter-Ministerial Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, before the holidays, Prof. Osinbajo noted that the Federal Government, in line with its Niger Delta New Vision, is targeting measurable objectives in its efforts towards implementing development projects in the region.
The December 22 meeting received a report that 38 licensed privately financed greenfield and mini-modular refineries investors have so far indicated interests in the establishment of refineries in the region, and at least ten (10) of the licensed refineries investors are at an advanced stage of development.
The advanced stage of development means that these projects have passed the Licence to Establish (LTE) stage, while some have the Authority to Construct (ATC) licence or close to having it because they have met some critical requirements in the Licensed stage.
There are three stages in the process of refinery establishment; Licence to Establish (LTE), Authority to Construct (ATC) and Licence to Operate (LTO).
So far, 10 modular refineries are located in five out of the nine states in the Niger Delta region; namely Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Imo states.
Also, two out of these 10 – Amakpe Refinery meant to be located in Akwa Ibom, and OPAC Refinery to be based in Delta State – have their mini-refineries modules already fabricated, assembled and containerized overseas, ready for shipment to Nigeria for installation. The total proposed refining capacities of the 10 licensed refineries stands at 300,000 barrels.
Noting the issue of funding as a major challenge to most of the investors, and the primary reason holding further progress of the refinery projects, the Vice President directed that the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources keep providing the necessary support and creating the enabling environment for positive investments in modular refineries by engaging key government agencies.
The agencies include the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board, NCDMB, and financial institutions, including the International Finance Corporation, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Bank of Industry, amongst others.
The Vice President stressed the importance of ensuring that the oil communities have a stake in the modular refineries and directed that an appropriate model be developed to achieve that.
Other issues addressed at the end of the year meeting include the Maritime University, Ogoni Clean-up, and other related issues such as increasing support for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the region.
On the Maritime University take-off, the Vice President noted that further support would be given by the Federal Government to ensure the training of staff to give the best to the incoming students of the institution.
On the Ogoni clean-up, the Project Coordinator for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, (HYPREP), Dr. Marvin Dekil briefed the meeting that progress has been made in several areas of the clean-up.
He listed the evaluation of existing water facilities in the four local government areas in Ogoni land in the process of providing clean drinking water, demonstration of remediation technologies at sites in some of the impacted communities; hiring of and the technical training of Ogoni scientists. The Coordinator added that health impact assessment would be conducted in some communities in the coming weeks.
At the meeting were the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Unguru Usani; Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jubril.
Others include the Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside; Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Corporation, Mr. Nsima Ekere; and the Special Adviser to the President on the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-General Paul Boroh (rtd).
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
December 30, 2017
Press Release: There is now a New Orientation To Grow Business In Nigeria – VP Osinbajo
“I think a new orientation has been birthed which is that as bureaucrats, we are meant to facilitate trade and commerce and business in our environment”, says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
Speaking today at the State House to heads of Federal Government regulatory agencies at a meeting convened to review the implementation of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Clinic (MSME Clinic) in the out-going year, the Vice President congratulated the implementing agencies saying “ I think that a tremendous improvement we’ve seen in the quality of service to the people is worthy of commendation and I want to congratulate you all.”
The Vice President told the implementing agencies not to rest on their laurels noting “next year will also be a more intense period where we will be required to double our efforts.”
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo later presented certificate of recognition to agencies who contributed to the success of the MSME Clinics namely; Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Bank of Industry (BOI), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), National Export and Import Bank (NEXIM), National Food and Drugs Administration & Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) as well as the project coordinator, Brown Valley Partners Ltd.
Earlier at the review session chaired by Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, the heads of agencies namely Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Bank of Industry (BOI), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), National Export and Import Bank (NEXIM), National Food and Drugs Administration & Control (NAFDAC), and Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), during their various presentations lauded the visionary leadership of the Vice President, commending him for ensuring that the clinics were held in 11 (eleven) cities across the six geo-political in the country.
It would be recalled that the MSME Clinics was launched by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Januray 24 in Aba, Abia State. It was conceived in view of the Buhari administration’s consideration of MSME space as critical to the growth and diversification of the nation’s economy from oil given its capacity as a potential contributor to the GDP.
The Clinics are driven by the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in conjunction with 14 MDAs which are critical to the operations of MSMEs in Nigeria.
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity)
Office of the Vice President
December 19, 2017
Press Release: All Those Found Guilty in Osborne Towers Scandal Will Be Sanctioned – President Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja said all those found culpable in the Osborne Towers scandal will be made to account and appropriately sanctioned.
Receiving a report of the panel established to review the operational, technical and administrative structure of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), President Buhari described the discovery of monies in the flat at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, in April this year, as an ‘‘unfortunate incident which rightly aroused public interest and outcry.’’
‘‘All the circumstances surrounding the obtaining, keeping custody and disbursement of the funds have been examined by the Vice President’s Committee and all those found to be culpable will be made to account and appropriately sanctioned.
‘‘However, it must be understood that this cannot be done in a manner that jeopardises national security or exposes the operations of any intelligence Agency, which must, by nature be conducted in secrecy.
‘‘Suffice it for me to assure all that justice will be done consistent with our anti-corruption policies,’’ the President said.
President Buhari, while commending the Presidential Review Panel on NIA led by Amb. Babagana Kingibe, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, for completing their assignment expeditiously, expressed the hope that the recommendations of the panel and that of an earlier Committee headed by the Vice President to look into the Osborne matter will assist Government in improving the operations of the NIA and the overall National Security architecture.
‘‘Your Panel’s recommendation, informed as they are by your collective experience and expertise in this field, should in particular help to reposition the NIA to better perform its vital functions with greater professionalism.
‘‘The Osborne Tower incident and its aftermath has also brought to the fore the need to review the entire National Security Architecture, which has now been in operation as established 31 years ago.
‘‘Once again, I thank you very much for undertaking this national assignment, ’’ he said.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was present at the presentation of the report by the panel which has Chief Albert Horsfall, Amb. Zakari Ibrahim and Amb. Ezekiel Oladeji, as members.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity)
December 19, 2017
Press Release: Working Together Will Boost Economic, Technological Growth, VP Osinbajo Tells Young Innovators
Nigeria’s youths will achieve more if they collaborate more on projects that will benefit them and also boost the nation’s capacity in innovation and technology, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
Prof. Osinbajo said this when he received a delegation of young Nigerian innovators and beneficiaries of grants from the Growth and Employment (GEM) Project, an initiative of the Federal Government under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, which is supported by the World Bank and the DFID.
In furtherance of the Buhari administration’s economic empowerment initiatives, the project empowers young Nigerian innovators and entrepreneurs with sustainable and innovative business models that will create more jobs for Nigerians and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
“I am happy that everyone is a co-founder; it speaks to what we say about collaboration and working together, and also with international players,” the Vice President said.
At the meeting, the young entrepreneurs showcased their business models during short presentations to Vice President, who commended them for their efforts and engaged them with questions on the sustainability of their laudable projects.
It will be recalled that the innovators were selected following the Aso Villa Demo Day (AVDD), a technological innovation competition organised by the Presidency earlier in the year.
Also, at the meeting was the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole.
In his remarks, the Project Coordinator of the GEM Project, Mr. Ugo Ikemba, thanked the Vice President for all the support the Buhari administration has given to the project since its inception. He said the project will continue to find platforms to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by enabling them get more access to funding.
In the same vein, the Director-General of Nigerian Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Jelani Aliyu, thanked the Presidency for providing leadership that supports and empowers young Nigerians to dream and innovate.
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
18 December, 2017
