DEFECTION: AHMED IBETO, NIGERIA’S AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH AFRICA RESIGNS, DEFECTS TO PDP

POLITICS: 
Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the Ambassador to South Africa, Ahmed Ibeto, has resigned.

He has also renounced his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress, and had crossed over to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

Ibeto was reported to have arrived Nigeria from Pretoria on Sunday and on Monday morning, he handed over his letter of resignation at the Ministry of External Affairs.

Our correspondent could not confirm if the envoy saw President Muhammadu Buhari before returning to Minna on Monday evenings. Ibeto was a deputy governor of Niger State on the platform of PDP.

Checks revealed on Tuesday that Ibeto have left Minna for his home town of Ibeto in Magama Local Government Area of the state.

According to sources, the former deputy governor was received by over 1,000 supporters on his way to Ibeto.

Our correspondent gathered that while in Ibeto, the ex-ambassador would first resign his membership of the APC and assume PDP membership.A source close to the former deputy governor told our correspondent that he would join governorship race immediately he registered with PDP.

It could be recalled that former Ambassador was a member of the PDP until the primary election of the party in November 2014, during which he lost the governorship ticket to Umar Nasko, a former Chief of Staff to ex-governor Babangida Aliyu.

He resigned his membership of the PDP along with thousands of his supporters after complaining about “the injustice” melted to him by the then ruling party.

Ibeto was the vehicle on which the incumbent APC governor rode to victory, leading his campaign to all the 274 wards in the state.

Also, last year, he was was appointed an ambassador and posted to South Africa by President Muhammed Buhari.

PROTESTERS STORM APC HEADQUARTERS, WANT SARAKI EXPELLED FROM APC (Photos)

Protesters from Kwara APC

Some protesters on Tuesday morning stormed the headquarters of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, demanding the sack of Senate President Bukola Saraki from the party.

The protesters, who said they were members of the APC in Kwara, also commended the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to dissolve the Kwara party executive.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the Monday decision of the NWC to dissolve the Kwara executive which had pledged total loyalty to Mr Saraki. However, the executivesrejected the dissolution, saying the NWC acted illegally.

Although Mr Saraki is still officially a member of the APC, he is expected to decamp to the opposition PDP soon. The other federal lawmakers from Kwara were among the over two scores federal lawmakers who defected from the APC last week.

The protesters on Tuesday are however unwilling to wait for Mr Saraki’s defection; instead, they want him expelled from the party.

Addressing journalists during their peaceful rally at the national secretariat, Tayo Awodiji called for the expulsion of Mr Saraki for anti-party activities.

“The dissolution of the Balogun APC executives in Kwara State by Adams Oshiomhole and the National Working Committee is highly commendable as it is long awaited,” Mr Awodiji said.

He said the dissolution will pave way for proper repositioning of the party ahead of the 2019 election.

The protesters also called for the conduct of fresh membership registration in the state and the recall of the Kwara lawmakers who defected from APC.

Apart from dissolving the Kwara executive, the APC NWC also set up a caretaker committee.

Mr Awodiji congratulated the leader of the caretaker committee, Omolaja Bolarinwa, and assured him of their cooperation and support in building the party.

He also commended the information minister, Lai Mohammed, whose faction is now in charge of the state chapter.

“We congratulate Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa on his appointment as the chairman caretaker committee while wishing him a successful tenure in office.

“We urge him to brace up for the herculean task of unifying all the elements and interests in the party, which will serve as a springboard for the achievement of greater success.”

Mr Bolarinwa belongs to the Kwara APC faction loyal to Mr Mohammed, who is also from Kwara State, although less influential politically, compared to Mr Saraki, in the North-central state. The faction which held separate APC congresses was initially not recognised by the national leadership. It had pledged to go to court to be recognised as the APC leadership in Kwara until the latest twist.

The dissolved faction is loyal to Mr Saraki and the state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed.

GOVERNOR ORTOM IMPEACHED BY EIGHT (8) BENUE APC LAWMAKERS

Governor Ortom of Benue State

About eight (8) members of the Benue State House of Assembly, sat in Makurdi, Monday and commenced Impeachment process against Governor Samuel Ortom, over alleged abuse of office and corrupt practices. The said 12 Members led by the allegedly impeached Speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange, sat under tight Security, to announce the decision and served the Impeachment notice on the Governor.

At least, eight (8) lawmakers of the Benue state House of Assembly under the All Progressives Congress, APC, have served impeachment notice to the Governor of the state, Samuel Ortom. 

They also announced suspension of 15 members of the house. The allegedly impeached Speaker who briefed newsmen in his Makurdi residence insisted that he remained the authentic Speaker of the house. According to Ikyange, the house has given 7 day ultimatum to the governor to respond to all the alleged misconduct and corruption charges against him.

The lawmakers who sat in the state’s Assembly complex on Monday, 30th July, 2018 gained access to the state assembly complex while the police barricaded further access to the house, Ortom’s aide has confirmed. 

Police shut down Benue State House of Assembly According to Ortom’s spokesman, Tahav Agerzua, the lawmakers took over the Assembly complex to sit and pass the impeachment notice while the police blocked further access.

Meanwhile, a detachment of heavily armed policemen have currently shutdown the Benue State House of Assembly. The policemen blocked the entrance to the Assembly complex, denying workers access. Meanwhile, youths from Benue state have, in the early hours of Monday, as at 5:am, trooped en masse to block the Benue Assembly complex over what they claimed was plots by some politicians loyal to the All Progressives Congress, APC, led Federal government to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom who has dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Reports not yet very clear claim the security personnel are currently in a clash with the Benue youths over the alleged invasion of State’s Assembly complex as well as the planned plot to impeach the Governor. 

Reports also claim the police team is firing tear gas to disperse the youths. Recall that Governor Ortom had given reasons as to why he dumped the APC to include that his people, the Benue state youths, had forced him to leave the party of cease to be their governor. 

DOUBLE-FACED, OSHIOMOLE ATTACKS GOV ORTOM.

Double-Faced, Oshiomole Attacks Gov Ortom.

Part (1): Before the governor dumped APC. 

1) I have a cordial relationship with Gov Ortom. - Oshiomhole
2) I know that Governor Ortom is a very senior member of the party and he can not be pushed out of the party  - Oshiomhole

Part (2): After Ortom joined the PDP.

1) Samuel Orthon became Governor of Benue State by mistake - Adams Oshiomole

‪2) Ortom deepened the circle of poverty in Benue
- Adams Oshiomhole. ‬

3) APC would lose Benue if it's field Ortom as candidate - Adams Oshiomhole

4) Ortom’s aides behind Benue killings, - Adam Oshiomhole.

A Pig 🐖 will remain a Pig not minding the number of times you take it to shower 🚿- @Hope For Nigeria.

I SPENT 11 HOURS IN THE WILDERNESS,’ DINO MELAYE TWEETS AFTER REPORTED KIDNAP

 
Senator Dino Milaye

The lawmaker representing Kogi West district, Senator Dino Melaye, says he has regained freedom. Senator Melaye shared his experience online on Friday, about 24 hours after he was reportedly abducted by gunmen in Gwagwalada, a suburb of Abuja. 

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce (Bayelsa East) broke the news of Senator Melaye’s abduction on Twitter on Thursday morning. Senator Murray-Bruce said he got the information from Melaye’s brother who said the lawmaker was kidnapped after the gunmen attacked them on their way to Kogi State. Later on Thursday, Senator Melaye failed to appear at the Magistrate Court in Lokoja for the continuation of his trial over an alleged gunrunning with his lawyer attributing his absence to the attack. “I learned he was attacked yesterday in Gwagwalada on his way home from the (FCT High) court,” the lawyer said. 

“Up till now, I have not been able to reach him. I don’t know where he is at the moment.” On Thursday night, the police said they have yet to receive any complaint about the abduction of the lawmaker. The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, however, said a statement that the police had begun an investigation into the incident. He also advised the relatives and associates of the senator to come forward with information that can help the police in their investigation. 

CONFIRMED: DINO MELAYE WAS NEVER KIDNAPPED AFTER ALL

Contrary to those claims, Dino Melaye’s relatives and many other senators have revealed that he was never kidnapped but only staged a walk into a bush to avoid being charged before a Kogi Court.

Although Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West, resurfaced on Friday to claim he “spent 11 hours in the wilderness”, SaharaReporters can confirm that he was never kidnapped.

Melaye was scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday before the Magistrate court in Abuja for alleged gunrunning, but the trial could not hold due to the claims by Senator Ben Bruce, quoting Melaye’s brother, that he had been abducted by unknown gunmen.

On Friday, he wrote on Twitter: “I thank God once again for escaping another dangerous attack. I also thank Nigerians for their prayers and show of Love. Spent 11 hours in the wilderness traumatized but God preserved me. God is the best and in whom ONLY I trust. They will continue to try. WE SHALL OVERCOME!!!”

Contrary to those claims, Melaye’s relatives and many senators have told SaharaReporters that he was never kidnapped but only staged a walk into a bush to avoid being charged to court.

-SAHARAREPORTERS 

PROPOSED REVIVAL OF SOUTH-SOUTH PORTS: A CASE OF CHEATING DOES NOT PAY

On the streets of Nigeria there is a popular saying, "cheating does not part". This saying is open to different interpretations. But the most prevalent interpretation being that in the long run, it is unprofitable to continue to defraud others for selfish gains.

The situation enroute Apapa Port  is disheartening. But it is a classical case of cheating does not pay. It is a case of the deliberate economic strangulation of other parts of Nigeria to the advantage of Lagos State.

We must be courageous to say the truth,  no matter whose ox is gored. Over the years, successive economic  administrators have castrated the ports in the South-South region, citing lame excuses for  their actions.

Today, the consequences  of their criminal manipulation is staring them in the face.

I read that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State begged the Federal Government  to revive existing Ports in other states of the federation so as to bring about permanent solution to the perennial traffic congestion in Apapa axis of the State.

Ambode's call is premised on Lagos' Interest, not on any love for other parts of the country.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has always emphasised the need to revive the Ports in Rivers State and  other parts of the South-South for the  rapid growth of the region .

Reality has dawned on the Government of Lagos State and hopefully the APC Federal Government that you can not deliberately destroy the economies of other states and be in eternal bliss.

With every deliberate act of economic sabotage comes a price.  For Lagos, this is the price of deliberate plots by the APC Federal Government to suffocate the South-South States.

Through ungodly policies, Ports in the South-South have been made redundant.  Each time, people complain, the APC Federal Government cites security challenges in the South-South.  They conveniently forget that they extract oil to sustain the national economy from the South-South.

A little research on the internet gives an insight on the outstanding Port Facilities in the South-South region. 

In the South-South, we have :

A: Calabar Port : This Port currently has 3 terminals namely; The New Port, The Old Port and The Dockyard and several other crude oil terminals operated by 3 terminal operators. These are INTELS Nigeria Ltd, ECM Terminal Ltd and Shoreline Logistics Nigeria.

B. Rivers Port Complex: This comprises the Port of Port Harcourt and Okrika Refined Petroleum Oil Jetty as well as Haastrup/Eagle Bulk Cement Jetty, Ibeto Jetty, Kidney Island Jetty, Macobar Jetty and Bitumen Jetty.

C. Onne Port : Onne port consists of two major facilities which are the Federal Ocean Terminal and the Federal Lighter Terminal. This Port has been designated as an Oil and Gas Free Zone.

D. Delta Port: This Port  includes the ports of Warri, Sapele, Burutu and the petroleum terminals at Escravos and Forcados.

With these facilities spread across three states of the South-South, Lagos State has no reason to carry more than 40 percent of the cargo into the country. 

With the infrastructural base of Rivers State and her connectivity by rail and air, the two major seaports in the state are supposed  to  be super-functional.

The Ports in Rivers State (Rivers Port and Onne Port)  can easily service the South-East, North Central and North-East States. If you add Calabar Port and Delta Ports to these two, the aforementioned three geo-political zones will be effectively  covered. That leaves Lagos Ports with South-West and North-West Geo-Political Zones.

If the Ports in the South-South are empowered to start full import and export activities, even  up to 40 percent, over five million direct and indirect jobs will be created.

The economies of the entire South-South and South-East  States will be positively impacted. Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri would be centres of rapid economic expansion and Aba, Nnewi and Onitsha economies will also boom.

This will also translate to improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)  for the South-South States. Over 50 percent of the IGR  of Lagos State comes from the Ports and allied activities. The strength of that economy is tied to the Ports. The South-South States will benefit from this advantage conferred on Lagos State by the Federal Government.

Governor Wike emphasised the need for functional seaports in the South-South during the South-South/South East Governors Meeting on August 27, 2017 at the Government House Port Harcourt .

Governor Wike said: “From geo-strategic economic perspective therefore, there is an urgent need to establish and link our cities with railways and super highways; to provide viable and affordable flight services between our cities, and to ensure that cargoes are brought into the country and the regions through our seaports, jetties and ferry services as a veritable means of stimulating economic growth and social progress across our two regions."

It is only in this part of the world that the Federal Government deliberately takes actions to cripple the epicentre of her economy.

All through the three years of this failed APC Federal Government, the few contracts in the transportation sector have been targeted at Lagos. Lagos-Ibadan standard guage rail-line, expansion of Lagos -Ibadan expressway and now the direct intervention of the presidency to address the Apapa gridlock.

There was the same gridlock on the Onne-Eleme section of the East-West Road.  This lasted for weeks. There was no intervention from the Presidency.  Governor Wike had to mobilise private companies along that route to fund the remedial measures that have kept the run manageable. This was done in partnership with the Rivers State Government.

Needless to say that the failed APC Federal Government has abandoned the East-West road and the Port-Harcourt-Enugu Dual Carriageway has become a point  for pictorial propaganda for this failure of a Federal Government.

Now that it has dawned on the APC leadership that they cannot continue to destroy the economies of sister states, this is the time to act.

Since Governor Ambode of Lagos State has joined his brother Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to canvass for the revival of South-South seaports, the APC Federal Government should for the first time be decent in her approach to governance.  They should, as a matter of urgency,  re-direct cargo traffic to this zone.

In Rivers State, Governor Wike anticipating  a time like this has improved the infrastructural base to carry the weight of expected development.

The excuse of insecurity is no longer applicable. As I write, despite  slight security challenges, the South-South Geo-Political  Zone is one of the most secure in Nigeria today. It is free from Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram, Militancy and Banditry. The little security lapses that come up are easily contained.

That is why expatriates and Nigerian technocrats drill oil on a daily basis  in the South-South to sustain the national economy.  Each time FAAC is shared, Nigerians must be appreciate  that the peace and quiet in the South-South made it possible.

Aside the revival of the South-South Ports to free Lagos of excess economic  fat, there is the immediate need to implement the Presidency's directive to all oil majors to relocate their  headquarters to the Niger Delta where they are extracting oil and negatively impacting  the environment.

It is ungodly that Niger Delta suffers the pangs of childbirth, while Lagos reaps the benefits  of the baby. These oil majors pay taxes to Lagos State Government, but pollute the South-South States.

For every generation, an opportunity comes for restitution.  The confession of Governor Ambode provides the platform for restitution.  It gives the failed APC Federal Government the opportunity to act rightly and empower  the people of the South-South.

Cheating does not pay. It only generates unnecessary developmental  crisis as witnessed in Lagos State.  You cannot continue to suppress a people. As long as you hold them down, so long you will remain on the floor with them. Nigeria is down because of deliberate acts of political and economic robbery by the APC Federal Government .  The crippling of South-South Ports  is one of such acts.

 

Credit: Scannewsnigeria.com 

NBC FINES DAAR COMMUNICATIONS OVER BREACH OF BROADCASTING CODE

Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman, DAAR Communications, owner of AIT & RayPower

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has imposed a fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only), on Daar Communications Group over alleged infringement on the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. The station is required to redeem the fine within two weeks.

In a statement issued yesterday, by the Head, Public Affairs of the airwaves regulatory agency, Mrs Maimuna Jimada, the broadcast media giant earned NBC’s wrath through the “Political Platform’s episode of Tuesday, July 24, 2018” which was allegedly “marked by sensational and heated expression of opinion by its anchors, who went on to make unproven and inciting allegations.”

Director General of NBC, Mallam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu announced the sanction “following the persistent and flagrant infringement of the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code through the use of provocative, inflammatory and divisive comments by anchors on the Raypower programme, Political platform,” Mrs Jimada said.

She recalled that the Commission had, on May 2, 2017; August 15, 2017; and February 7, 2018, held meetings with staff of Daar Communications during which concerns were expressed on the unprofessional manner anchor persons had been handling the programme.

Particularly, she said the DG had charged the team on all occasions to be fair and balanced in their reportage devoid of expression of personal opinions.

“He also at the last meeting on February 7, 2018 sounded a warning to Daar Communications to ensure compliance in order to avoid stiff sanctions.”

Meanwhile, the Commission has reiterated the need for broadcasters to always abide by the rules guiding operation as enshrined in the Broadcasting Code.

Emphasis is laid on Section 1.9.3 which stipulates that “A presenter/anchor shall not express his or her personal opinion in the programme.”

Section 5.2.7 states “A broadcaster shall, in using political material for news, avoid taking inflammatory and divisive matter in its provocative form.”

Section 5.2.5 stresses “Political broadcasts shall be in decent language.”

Section 3.1.3: “The broadcaster shall recognize expression as an agent of society, therefore, he shall not use his medium for any personal or sectional rights, privileges and needs of his own, proprietor, relatives, friends or supports.” Section 3.3.2:

“A broadcaster shall acknowledge his or her own inherent biases and prejudices, and transparently rise above subjective mind-set.” Section 3.3.3: “All sides to any issue of public interest shall be equitably presented to ensure fairness and balance.”

Section 4.5.1: “No individual or organization shall be treated in an unjust or unfair manner in any programme.”

Section 5.2.18: “While a broadcast producer may interact with politicians in the course of his professional duties, this shall not be such, as to lead to the belief, that he is either a member or sympathizer of any political party.”

According to Mallam Kawu, “broadcasting stations must ensure that anchors of their programmes are well informed and properly trained on the ethics of the profession as well as the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code as the Commission would impose severe sanctions for any breach of the Broadcasting Code.”

GOVERNOR TAMBUWAL WILL LEAVE APC FOR HIS PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION – CHIBUIKE AMAECHI

Governor Tambuwal of Sokoto state

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, has Friday, said that the Federal government is aware the the Governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal will soon leave the All Progressive Party, APC, over his Presidential ambition.

Amaechi while fielding questions from newsmen during the inspection of Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri project in Delta State, said the ruling party is not unmindful of Tambuwal’s ambition for President.

According to him, “No matter what you do, the governor of Sokoto will leave naturally because he had the ambition of being the president in 2019 and even if you take a chicken to him he will still leave. It is same with Kwara.”

“These are people you expect they will leave. They left with members of the National Assembly but they came from the areas that the President is very comfortable. Do you honestly believe that the President will lose election in Sokoto? It is one of his comfort zones, he added.”

He said no matter who leaves the ruling party at the end of the day, President Muhammad Buhari will still win. “The next persons that left are from Bauchi and if you bring the president on a sick bed in Bauchi he will win. He has never lost election in that state. If you bring him ion a sick bed in Kano, he will win. Well, that is being arrogant on our side..”

“Again, you will say that it happened during our time but we sold our candidate one year but they are doing it six months to the election. It was clear who will be APC candidate one year ahead of time.”

On the allegations that he is on the other side, he said: “One thing about me in the political history of Nigeria is that nobody has doubt where I stand. One quality I have is that Nigerians believe that I am honest and cannot hide my feelings.”

GOOGLE STATION:BROADBAND COVERAGE: FG TO LICENSE NEW SERVICE PROVIDERS -OSINBAJO

 Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has announced plans by the Federal Government to expand the broadband coverage of the country through the licensing of private broadband providers soon.

Osinbajo said this while launching the Google for Nigeria event at the Landmark Centre, Lagos on Thursday.

He said the measure would improve the digital space and opportunities for innovation and technological advancement of the country.

He said: “Next week, I will launch a climate innovation centre in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre at the Lagos Business School, here in Lekki Village.

“All of these form part of our ICT road map in which the private sector is an important stakeholder.

“The challenge remains connectivity, extending broadband reach, making data cheaper.

“Our national broadband policy is the first step we are taking.

“And so through the Nigerian Communications Commission we are licensing a number of infrastructure companies who will invest in rolling out broad band infrastructure across Nigeria.

“I believe that we can extend broadband connectivity and reach significantly within a year or two and we will be partnering in whatever way we can with Google, with Nigerian broadband providers like 21 Century Technologies, BCN, to quickly achieve the level of connectivity that is required to march the creative energy that is being released in our country on a daily basis.

“Our goal is to create a data-driven digital economy, one that would lead to the way not just in Africa but globally as well.”

Osinbajo expressed the belief that Nigeria was on the right path as the nation had the people and the talent.

He added that there existed a government that had seen the potential very clearly and showing the determination to unlock that potential.

According to him, technology has put great powers in our hands as individuals, but more importantly as co-creators and collaborators to positively and dramatically change the course of human existence.

Osinbajo noted that with technology, the country could solve many problems confronting the people.

He said in addition, the country could connect people, grow businesses, influence good governance and create better lives and a better country for the citizens and for the future.

He said the country was in many senses at an exciting moment in history because of what the young people were doing in innovation and their sheer energy and talent.

Accordingly, the Vice President noted that the future the country was looking at, which had already arrived, is bound to be an exciting one for the youth and adults.

He said the government would be with the youth in every step of the journey.

The Vice President thanked Google for democratizing the country’s digital space, urging that such innovations should be extended to many of the nation’s markets where a large number of people pride their business.

He observed that through Artificial Intelligence, the country was guaranteed more food and better healthcare.

He said every step made to make technology available would lead to a quantum leap in the African development story and a major contribution to global stability and growth.

He described the launch of the Google station in the country as a very exciting event because of the company’s promise to provide access in several public spaces.

He said the country was happy with the Google’s partnership and had been energizing the country’s markets with solar power, especially in Aba, Kano, Lagos and Ibadan.

He said access to information, tools of education, business or commerce ensured that a lot of gaps of inequalities and exclusion were bridged.

Osinbajo recalled that a digital skills training programme was launched in 2016 aimed at training of 400,000 youth on basic digital skills, adding that the government had since trained more than one million persons in partnership with Google and local digital firms.

He added that to scale up the support of private players in the technology space, government created the technology and creative industry advisory group as part of the industrial council to support young players in the industry.

He stated that through the GEM programme of the World Bank, the administration had given a $2 million lifeline to 79 start-ups across the country, while the Bank of Industry had set aside a N10 billion technology fund also.

He said: “We are looking at increasing the availability of the fund and how to use all the development finance banks to extend credit to innovation and technology start-ups.”

Osinbajo said government was committed to building an ecosystem to drive innovation, adding that government was training 5,000 developers as part of the country’s N-Power tech programme with another 3,000 being trained in animation.

The VP added that government was supporting the students’ hub innovation challenge across institutions to support student entrepreneurs.

The Country Director of Google, Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, earlier said the African digital story was evolving and the organization planned to keep building products and programmes to accelerate growth in Nigeria and Africa.

Ehimuan-Chiazor recalled that in 2017, the company had brought together Google’s global leadership with over 200 key stakeholder in the industry.

She said the organisation remained committed to developing the digital ecosystem and making its products more useful for Africans.

She said: “Most of Africa’s biggest challenges may not be solved by methods of the past; with machine learning and artificial intelligence, these problems can be solved in a radically different way both faster and more cost effectively.

“For example today with a smart phone and a camera and existing apps it is possible to detect and prevent diseases, predict severe weather conditions, like droughts, and also address financial inclusion for the un-banked,” she stated.

The Google chief said the country would continue to seek digital growth of Nigeria and Africa as Nigeria currently had over 45 million mobile internet users and future growth would be driven by smart phones currently growing at 14 per cent ever year.

Ehimuan-Chiazor recalled that Google had committed to training five million Africans as well as to train the next developers of Africans and giving them Google certification

Ehimuan-Chiazor said entrepreneurs in Africa would create the jobs of the future, adding that the company was willing to through its Launchpad Accelerator Africa give more than $3 million equity free support to more than 60 early stage start-ups in the continent.

She said: “Since the launch earlier this year, 12 start-ups have graduated from the programme, working across a range of industry.

“They have created 132 jobs and raised over $7 million in funding and their products are used by approximately 4.5 million users.”

Ehimuan-Chiazor also recalled the $20 million pledged to support non-profits in their jobs.

In a related development, the Vice President declared open the Co-working Conference 2018 of innovators in Lagos, where he stressed the need for collaboration and partnerships among entrepreneurs to boost productivity and economic growth.