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Senator Ndume Vows to Win Senate Presidency Seat
A former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has said he will emerge as the Senate President of the Ninth National Assembly.
The senator said this in an interview with journalists in Lagos on Monday.
He said he was confident because he had the support of his colleagues in the Senate and the leaders of the All Progressives Congress.
Ndume said he was not in the race to bargain for juicy position, saying he had done his homework.
He stated that no party leader had asked him to withdraw for anyone, adding that the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, had explained that the party only recommended Senator Ahmad Lawan as the preferred choice and had not imposed him on the senators.
He said, “We have 109 senators and each of them have one vote. If you are contesting to be the Senate President, you have to reach out. But at the beginning, I was cautious because I am a party man. So, when the party said ‘don’t go there,’ I did not.
“But the party came out again and said, ‘You can reach out to them now,’ so I reached out to them.
“So far, the response I am getting from my colleagues from the APC and other parties is very encouraging. I am in this race to win; I am talking to everybody. I have the telephone numbers of all the 109 senators-elect and I call them.
“I have written the party, indicating my intention to contest. Even my national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, publicly said they only recommended Lawan and not that they are stopping anybody.
“As I speak with you, nobody has consulted me to say ‘don’t run for Senate President’. Everybody has the constitutional right to do that.”
Ndume, who represents Borno South in the Senate, promised to improve upon the performance of the Eighth Senate.
He promised to make the Office of the Senate President less attractive by reducing the unnecessary privileges attached to the office.
While promising to uphold the independence of the legislative arm of government, the third- time Senator promised to “work harmoniously and inter-dependently with the executive without undermining the principle of separation of power.”
The lawmaker said the North-East deserved an articulate representative as Senate President, adding that the region had suffered huge devastation with property worth over N2tn destroyed by insurgents.
Ndume, who said if given the opportunity, he would not compromise the independence of the legislature, added that his chances of becoming the next Senate President were bright.
The Punch
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SPIN Hosts Inaugural Scientific Induction Committee, Makes Case for Reseach-Based Sustainability
The Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria (SPIN) convened its inaugural Scientific Induction Committee on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
The virtual event, themed “Mainstreaming Sustainability in Africa: Professionalism, Standardization, and Capabilities,” brought together distinguished scholars, industry leaders, and sustainability professionals to chart a path for Africa-centric sustainability solutions.
Moderated by Dr. Mories Atoki (Hon.), SPIN’s Legal Director, and headlined by First Bank of Nigeria PLC, the event featured keynote addresses and panel discussions with globally recognized experts. These included Professor Kenneth Amaeshi, President of SPIN and Professor of Sustainable Finance at the European University Institute.
Professor Amaeshi stressed the importance of “decolonizing sustainability frameworks” and prioritizing local contexts. He noted, “Africa must redefine sustainability on its own terms, balancing environmental, social, and economic imperatives unique to our realities.”
Vice President Ini Abimbola, while administering the SPIN induction oath, charged the newly inducted scientific committee members to advance professionalism, drive standardization, and strengthen capacity building in sustainability, ultimately shaping the future of sustainability in Africa.
The newly inducted scientific committee of the Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria (SPIN) comprises seven distinguished scholars and practitioners. Professor Emmanuel Adegbite, Professor of Accounting and Corporate Governance at Nottingham University Business School, emphasized the critical role of corporate governance in driving sustainable business practices.
Professor Judy Muthuri, Professor of Sustainable Business and Development at the University of West Indies, stressed the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge and community-led approaches into sustainability strategies. The committee members highlighted the complexities of sustainability in Africa.
Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, Professor of Global Climate Governance and Public Policy at the University of Bristol, advocated for justice-centered policies that address historical inequities.
Professor Uwafiokun Idemudia, Dean of the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences at the University of Guelph, called for multi-stakeholder collaboration to mitigate environmental degradation.
Dr. Adaeze Okoye, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Lead at the University of Brighton, underscored the need for regulatory frameworks that promote equity and inclusion.
The committee emphasized innovative approaches to sustainability, featuring expert insights from renowned thought leaders. Dr. Natalie Beinisch, Co-founder of the Circular Economy Innovation Partnership, shared insights on leveraging circular economy principles.
Professor Tazeeb Rajwani, Chaired Professor of International Business and Strategy at Surrey Business School, analyzed geopolitical shifts impacting sustainability practices and emphasized the need for African businesses to develop resilient, context-specific strategies.
Building on these insights, Ismail Omamegbe, SPIN’s Director of Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement, outlined the committee’s roadmap. “We look forward to our new scientific committee members’ insights in shaping our research agenda, policy formulation, and capacity-building initiatives,” he stated.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Eunice Sampson, SPIN’s Director of Learning and Development, reaffirmed the committee’s vision. “Through this distinguished committee, we will transform sustainability in Africa by localizing solutions and decolonizing approaches. Our focus remains on driving inclusive, data-driven growth through strong political commitments and cross-sector collaboration.”
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Gatmash Partners Access Bank to End ‘Period’ Poverty in Nigeria with ‘PAD Me a Girl Initiative’
Access Bank Plc, a leading financial institution in Nigeria, is partnering the “PAD Me A Girl Initiative,” a project of GATMASH MEDIA, to launch a ‘Pad Bank’ aimed at providing free sanitary pads to girls and women in need.
The groundbreaking initiative is founded by Theresa Moses, a renowned journalist and Editor-in-Chief of GATMASH NEWS. The project seeks to address the pressing conundrum of ‘period’ poverty, which is affecting millions of girls and women in Nigeria.
The initiative will help address pads deficit among the less privileged members of the society as its aim is to promote menstrual health and hygiene, as well as provide educational materials, and support girls and women in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
The Access PAD Me A Girl Initiative is also partnering with several organizations, including Checkers Custard, Empowered Girls for Christ Foundation, Jeffrey Kuraun Foundation, ProStar, Vita Baites Foods, and many more.
This is a unique and innovative concept, designed to store and distribute free sanitary pads to the needy. The ‘Pad Bank’ will be stocked with sanitary pads donated by Access Bank, other corporate organizations, and individuals. The idea is to collect and distribute over 1 million sanitary pads annually.
“We are excited to partner with Access Bank to launch the Pad Bank,” said Theresa Moses, Convener of the “PAD Me A Girl Initiative.”
“Access Bank is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of Nigerians. Therefore, Access PAD Me A Girl project is a testament to its dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable society that every girl and woman deserves access to sanitary pads.
“The Pad Bank is a game-changer in the fight against period poverty, as it will provide a safe and accessible space for girls and women to access sanitary pads, promoting dignity and empowering them to reach their full potential.”
The Access PAD Me A Girl Project aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
In addition, the initiative will provide educational materials and support (Exercise books and pen), thereby helping to promote literacy and educational attainment, in consonance with SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empowering all women and girls to reach their full potentials.
The Access PAD Me A Girl Project, which includes the launch of the Pad Bank, will kick off on April 3rd, 2025, in Gofye Community, Kuje Area Council, New Kunchingoro, Opposite Games Village, Kaura, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, and on April 5th, 2025, in Ortese IDP Camp, Guma LGA, Benue State.
Ondo State is historically a giant in agriculture which is the mainstay of the economy of Nigeria. This is despite being listed as one of the states rich in crude oil and other minerals in Nigeria.
For a long time, Ondo State has been the biggest producer of cocoa in Nigeria. Further, the state is blessed with large fields of fertile soil which supports high yield of oil palm, rubber, cassava, among others cash and food crops.
This is why the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Gov. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has vowed to continue to support initiatives which will bring back the glory days of Ondo State in agriculture. His efforts are beginning to yield immense gains as one of the largest agricultural investments in the recent history of the state has just been established. This is the JB Palm Plantation and Processing Mill, Ore, Ondo State which is bankrolled by the Managing Director/CEO of JB Farms limited, Mr. Ajibola Adebutu, MON in the oil-rich State.
The remarkable investment by Mr. Ajibola Adebutu is a significant milestone in Ondo State’s progression towards taking back its pride of place as leader of the agricultural revolution in Southwest Nigeria, nay Nigeria as a whole. This huge investment in oil palm production which is needed for food products like cooking oil, margarine, soaps, cosmetics, and biofuels will undoubtedly set Ondo State as the hub for agricultural production and processing.
On the other hand, this grand investment by Ajibola Adebutu may also help to reverse the trend of kidnapping and criminality in Ondo South Senatorial district where it is located. The place was a hiding haven for criminals as it used to be a thick forest.
Paying a working visit to the JB Farms in Ore, the visibly elated Executive Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa stated: ‘This is a very large plantation. It is the biggest I have seen. So much has gone into this place including road infrastructure. This is about 400km of roads leading to the various clusters in this farm. They have taken it to another level. We have to support large scale mechanized farmers. We will give them all the required support, security, and enabling environment.’
While appreciating the Governor for his visit, Mr. Adebutu noted that this oil palm investment ‘is capable of producing about 800 tonnes of palm fruit everyday. With this, security wise, kidnappers will not have a place to hide. We are encouraging people. We are challenging people to invest because this is part of the future of Nigeria.’
Governor Aiyedatiwa also planted a palm tree in the Farms to affirm his unrivalled commitment to promoting food sufficiency, sustainable agriculture and profitable agribusiness in the state.
Culled from Trek Africa Newspaper
