Yale University honours Minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Photos)

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
has received an honorary Doctorate degree from Yale University, USA.
Okonjo-Iweala  was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters at Yale’s 2015 Commencement Ceremony in New Haven, Connecticut Monday.‎ The award is usually bestowed to scholars, public servants, Nobel Prize winners and heads of states‎
She was honoured alongside the Chair of the Board of Governors of ‎US Federal Reserve System Janet Yellen, world renowned Beninoise Singer and songwriter Angelique Kidjo and many more.
She becomes the second Nigerian  to receive the university’s highest honour after Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka who received an honorary Doctor of Letters in 1980.
Other Africans who have also been honoured by the prestigious institution are Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.‎‎
Giving out the award, the President of the University Professor Peter Salovey described Okonjo-Iweala as “a brilliant reformer and dedicated public servant” who has spearheaded efforts to stabilise and grow Nigeria’s economy, battling widespread government corruption and creating greater fiscal transparency and discipline.”

He continued, “As Finance Minister in 2004, Okonjo-Iweala and the economic team that she led helped Nigeria obtain debt relief, wiping out $30 billion of Paris club debt, leading to a tripling of the growth rates.



The second time around as Finance Minister in 2011, Okonjo-Iweala has focused on building solid foundations and institutions critical for the survival and sustenance of the economy. She bravely fought corruption in governance with fierce dedication and unflagging energy.”


PDP's Godsday Orubebe cross-carpets to APC.

Former Nigerian Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday  Orubebe who caused a stir (I’m sure you remember) during the collation of the Presidential results in March has cross-carpeted to APC.


“I have concluded plans to join my folks in the APC to champion and sustain the movement for a better Niger Delta in the new administration. ‎Details will be released soon. Thank you all.”‎ He announced on twitter.

Nigerian to ride a bike from UK to Nigeria

 And No, this has nothing to d‎o with Buhari.‎ He is doing this for a cause. Come November 2015, a Nigerian Biker, Omo Alokwe will ride from UK to Lagos, Nigeria, in November to support/raise funds for an humanitarian aid organisation -Medicine Sans Front (MSF). He aims to raise £20,000. 

Davido welcomes baby girl with Dele Momodu's cousin

‎David ‘Davido’ Adeleke is now a father. The multiple award-winning artiste and his girlfriend Sophie Momodu welcomed their daughter few days ago.
Sophie is Ovation International magazine publisher, Dele Momodu’s cousin. The renowned‎ writer congratulated the couple on instagram few minutes ago.

"We should get there in 3 months time". 5 men to trek from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia for Buhari.

‎Talk about taking the trekking-for-poluticians trend to an alarming level. How did we get here? My mouth is still wide open as I type this.
5 residents of Bauchi State Dahiru Aminu, 33; Abdullahi Hussaini (36), Kabiru Saleh (35), Abubakar Daguma (45) and Mohammed Yawale (45)  have revealed their plans to trek from Bauchi to Saudi Arabia to celebrate General Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the presidential poll.
One of the men, Yawale said they were motivated by the man, Hashim Suleiman who trekked from Lagos to Abuja for Buhari’s victory. 

“We also decided to trek from Bauchi to Saudi Arabia to show our profound appreciation to God for giving him victory.

“Buhari tried for 12 years to become President of this country but God didn’t make it possible for him. Now he has given him the opportunity to lead this nation. Nigeria is a decayed state and we believe that Buhari will fix things in the country.”

“We will trek from Bauchi to Maiduguri and from there, we will get to Chad and then Sudan then we will proceed to Jeddah before arriving in Saudi Arabia.
“By our calculations, we will get there in three months time. We will begin a day after the swearing in of Buhari.‎
“We are ready to sacrifice our lives for this mission because we believe it is a just one. We implore all Nigerians to pray for us that God will give us success in our journey.

President Jonathan sacks NIPC boss

President Goodluck Jonathan today relieved the appointment of the Executive Secretary/Chief Eve of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Mrs. Saratu Altine Umar and ‎approved the appointment of Mrs. Uju Aisha Hassan-Baba as her replacement
And as with most if not all the sackings, no reason was given for his decision.
“President Jonathan thanks the out-going Executive Secretary/Chief Executive for her services and wishes her well in her future endeavours,”‎ a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati read.
The new Executive Secretary/Chief Executive had worked as Director-General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in Anambra State and Director, Legal Services, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

Joseph Edgar's Loud Whispers: Advice to Governors who can't pay salaries

My candid advice to the Governors of Cross River,Osun and those states that can’t pay salaries is to go and look for the Boko Haram Leader and claim the $1.6b bounty reward that is on his head. That is the simplest way they can get money to save their shame.
With the continuous problem in federal revenues, the Incoming Government of Buhari which promises to be restrictive in initiative, these Governors would need to be more creative in shoring up their state finances. They should deploy all those security men that follow them everywhere into this project.
Find Shekau and get the money so that you can pay salaries. Me, I don’t have respect for these Governors and I’m particularly embarrassed by Governor Lyel Imoke who I believed was more cosmopolitan and urbane to understand how to build a modern economy that would create private sector jobs which would now be effectively taxed thereby securing his position in history.
Every time this issue comes up, all I can remember is Ogbeni of Osun on top of a Bus in Lagos and throwing money into the crowd when he had not been paying salaries. This is adult truancy and I beg that something should be done urgently. These states have abundant resources that can be utilized in creating wealth. Osun has huge natural resources, internationally acclaimed tourist sites, gold deposits amongst others.
Cross river tourism is globally recognized, huge forests containing all sort of natural resources, huge human capital capabilities amongst others and yet we are hearing that salaries are being owed. No be to live for State House, drive in ten car motorcade na him be Governor o.
Finally, they can also talk to Aliko. Instead of Aliko wasting all that money on Arsenal, he should buy Calabar rovers at a premium or borrow the Government the money using the State House as Collateral. Me, I real tire for these so called yeye Governors. ‎

Champions League final: Barcelona to invite Guardiola, Rijkaard, Venables and Cruyff as special guests.

Barcelona FC’s former managers, Pep Guardiola, Terry Venables, Johan Cruyff and Frank Rijkaard‎ will be invited as guests of honor at the Champions League final coming up in‎ Berlin on June 6.

Barcelona vice-president Jordi Cardoner who disclosed this added that having the quartet who coached the team La Blaugrana in at least one European Cup final would be a huge honour.

“It would mean a lot to us for the four of them to be at the‎ Olympia stadion in Berlin on June 6, on what will be a very special day for the club,” Cardoner said.


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