PRESIDENT BUHARI MOURNS RENOWNED PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS, ADEREMI OLUYOMI KUKU

President Muhammadu Buhari sends condolences to the family of renowned mathematician and scientist, Prof Aderemi Oluyomi Kuku, over the passing of the scholar and administrator, whose work will continue to stand as a testimony of his diligence and brilliance.

President Buhari joins the academia, in Nigeria and abroad, in mourning the researcher and publisher, who turned a full Professor of Mathematics in 1982, at the age of 41, and consistently contributed to global knowledge, serving variously as President of the African Mathematical Union (AMU), Member of the International Mathematical Union Commission on Development and Exchange and President of The African Academy of Sciences.

The President notes that the late scholar’s drive and love for knowledge earned him many recognitions and awards, which include NNOM (Nigerian National Order of Merit), the highest honour in Nigeria for academic excellence, OON (Officer of the Order of the Niger), Fellow of the American Mathematical Society, Fellow of the Mathematical Association of Nigeria and Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences.

President Buhari prays for repose of the soul of the departed, and God’s comfort for his family.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

February 15, 2022

PRESIDENT BUHARI TO PARTICIPATE IN EU-AU SUMMIT IN BELGIUM

President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja, today Tuesday, to join European and other African leaders as well as heads of multilateral organisations at the 6th European Union-African Union Summit in Brussels, Belgium.

The Summit which holds February 17 – 18, 2022, will have the participants deliberate on themes currently affecting the world.

Such areas of discussion include: Financing for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth; Climate Change and Energy Transition, Digital and Transport (Connectivity and Infrastructure); Peace, Security and Governance; and Private Sector Support and Economic Integration.

Others are: Education, Culture and Vocational Training, Migration and Mobility; Agriculture and Sustainable Development and Health Systems and Vaccine Production.

The Nigerian leader will use the opportunity of the meeting to have other bilateral engagements.

The President will be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of State for the Environment, Sharon Ikeazor.

The National Security Adviser, Maj.Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), Director General of the National Intelligence Agency , Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar and the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa will also be part of the entourage.

President Buhari is expected back in the country on Saturday.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

February 15, 2022

Don’t remove NDDC from Niger Delta Ministry, South-South leaders tell Buhari

• Warn critics
• Offer rare praise of Akpabio during Benin meeting

Notable leaders in the South-South geo-political zone on Sunday gave credit to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio for the development of the region.

They also scolded Akpabio’s critics for confusing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Board with the region’s development.

‘’Senator Godswill Akpabio’s critics are enemies of the region’’

The leaders in a statement in Benin hailed Akpabio for exhibiting rare wisdom, injecting new ideas into the development process of the region, paving the way for many of the changes initiated by the current administration in the region and making NDDC conform to the needs of the people.`

The statement signed by the spokesman of the South-South Front (SSF), Chief John Harry, pointed out the many fundamental differences between the opinions of critics and Akpabio’s development agenda.

The leaders applauded Akpabiob for advocating total, sweeping and radical changes, giving importance to due process and embarking on a complete break with the past.

They described Eni Balulu, Eshiefaotsa Slvanus and Kola Edokpayi of Concerned Edo Citizens and Coalition of Edo Volunteers Groups as misguided voices of some politicians and contractors in the country.

‘’Their views did not mirror the changes occurring in the region. It is also absurd to claim as spokesperson of Agitators for Conscience, Izon Ebi does that NDDC is messier than before forensic audit’’.

The prominent leaders in the zone accused the Executive Director and Coordinator of Project Niger Delta, Princewill Ebebi and National President, Niger Elders Forum, Tonye Ogbogbula of impeding the progress of the region, placing primary emphasis on prejudice and doing a disservice to the South-South geo-political zone.

Specifically, the leaders dismissed calls for the inauguration of the already cleared members of the NDDC board.

They urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to return the Commission to the Presidency.

The statement emphasized human virtues and excellence, Akpabio’s modes of thinking about development issues in the region and the shortcomings of past Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) chiefs.

The leaders attributed the emphatic stress on the inauguration of a substantive board of NDDC by critics to lack of reason and sentiment.

They advised Edo youths not to turn the zone upside down.

The leaders also emphasised self-sacrifice, truthfulness, Akpabio’s brilliant insights and development approaches.