Personality in Focus
Elumelu Reaffirms Commitment to Gabon’s Economic Devt, Youth Empowerment
The Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group, and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Tony Elumelu, has once again reaffirmed his commitment to the development of Gabon’s economy following a high-level meeting with the President of Gabon, Brice Oligui Nguema earlier this week.
Elumelu who was on official visit to Presidential Palace in Libreville, Gabon on the invitation of President Ngueman discussed key strategies to enhance infrastructure development and foster entrepreneurship in the country.
During the discussions, both leaders underscored the importance of strategic investments in infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth and job creation, while Elumelu, a strong advocate of Africapitalism, emphasised the role of private sector partnerships in driving sustainable development.
“The President of Gabon is committed to ensuring the development of infrastructure in Gabon, and I, as an African and an African investor, support countries, leaders, and companies that want to invest and create jobs for young people,” Elumelu highlighted.
On the back of a previous engagement by both leaders in New York in September 2024, Elumelu disclosed plans of a dedicated initiative to support the Gabonese youth through UBA and his Foundation, the TEF.
“As the founder of TEF, which supports young Africans, I am pleased to work alongside leaders who embrace and bring together African youth. His Excellency, the President, was kind enough to share his vision for assisting young Gabonese people, and he asked for my support. I made a promise that UBA Group will support infrastructure development projects in Gabon, and TEF will provide young entrepreneurs with non-refundable seed funding of $5,000 each year,” Elumelu assured.
Expressing his appreciation for Elumelu’s commitment, the President of Gabon highlighted the significance of this partnership in driving the nation’s economic agenda. “Gabon is poised for a new era of economic transformation, and partnerships with leading African investors like Tony Elumelu are key to accelerating our progress. Our focus is on creating opportunities for young people and strengthening the nation’s infrastructure, and we welcome collaborations that align with this vision,” the President stated.
UBA Group, a leading Pan-African financial institution, has long supported economic growth across the continent through strategic infrastructure investments and financial empowerment initiatives. With this renewed commitment, the bank aims to enhance financial inclusion and create sustainable opportunities for local entrepreneurs, further strengthening Gabon’s economic resilience.
This collaboration marks a significant step in fostering an environment that promotes innovation, financial independence, and economic prosperity in Gabon.
Earlier, while speaking to a group of combined audience of policymakers, business executives, and investors who gathered at the inaugural edition of the Cameroon Economic Meeting in Yaoundé, Elumelu, highlighted the critical role of entrepreneurship, infrastructure development, and financial inclusion in fostering economic transformation.
He underscored the importance of intra-African trade and investment, just as he urged stakeholders to adopt policies that create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
Former Presidential Spokesperson, Doyin Okupe has reportedly passed away.
TheNewsGuru reports that the senior adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and, recently, the Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 Presidential Campaign died at 71, after a long struggle with cancer.
In October 2023, Okupe was hospitalized with prostate cancer and was flown to Israel for treatment.
However, it was learnt that his condition did not improve as expected.
Okupe had a history of prostate cancer, first diagnosed 16 years ago, and a later bout with sarcoma in his right shoulder.
Following his milestone achievements as Chairman of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), the Chairman/CEO of Executive Group, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan has been officially announced as the Patron of the Police advocacy initiative in Lagos State, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report.
The POCACOV is the Nigeria Police Force advocacy initiative to help young people avoid cultism and other vices. It uses advocacy, awareness, and sensitization to help young people avoid vices by conducting community outreaches to schools, inner cities, rural areas, and urban centres. It also helps to rehabilitate and reintegrate those who have been cut in the web of cultism, crimes, and social vices.
It would be recalled that Dr. Ayo Ogunsan took up the Chairmanship job about a year ago and was able to use his grand standing as the Board Member of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), prime supporter of security news beat association National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), and leadership of non-profit initiative, AKEM Foundation to champion his work and various impacting activities in the past one year. This is why POCACOV through its National Coordinator, ACP Olabisi Oluseyi Okuwobi on behalf of the Inspector General of Police announced his official elevation into the role of Patron of POCACOV in Lagos State.
The United Nations POLAC International Peace Advocate, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan expressed his gratitude to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and the National Coordinator, ACP Okuwobi for the new role and promised to give direction to the new Chairman, Mr. Moses Oladimeji which will lead to improved performance of POCACOV in Lagos.
‘I will keep raiding our communities with love. We will give them food, shelter, etc. Police will do the Police work but I will do the policing of love’, Ogunsan affirmed.
This piece is contributed by Oki Samson
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Shamsedeen Ogunjimi as the new Accountant General of the Federation after a rigorous selection process.
A statement by Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga said his appointment, approved on Tuesday, takes effect from 7th March 2025, the same day the incumbent Oluwatoyin Madehin will retire.
Ogunjimi, 57, was first named as Madehin’s successor last December.
“A selection committee later chose him through a competitive, rigorous, and merit-based process involving Directors of Accounts in the Federal Civil Service. The committee conducted the process through three stages: a written assessment, an ICT proficiency test, and oral interviews.
“The selection process underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to promoting transparency, excellence, and competence in key public service positions,” the statement read in part.
Ogunjimi graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy.
He also obtained a Master’s in Accounting and Finance from the University of Lagos.
He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
President Tinubu congratulated Ogunjimi on his appointment, and urged him to discharge his duties in the service with integrity, professionalism, and dedication to Nigeria’s service.
