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Why Africa is Underdevelop – Tinubu

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President Bola Tinubu says Africa holds a significant portion of the world’s mineral reserves, including 92 per cent of global platinum, 56 per cen of cobalt, and 54 per cent of manganese, yet underdevelop.The President attributed the continent’s underdevelopment to the fact that, the resources were primarily extracted and exported to foreign countries for refining and manufacturing.

Tinubu, represented by his Vice, Kashim Shettima, stated this in a keynote address, during the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) meeting, held on the sidelines of the ongoing 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.
A statement on the event was made available to newsmen in Abuja by Mr Stanley Nkwocha, the spokesperson of Vice-President.
In the statement, the President noted that extracting raw minerals in Africa had continued to keep the continent in a state of povertyAccording to him, the extraction of raw minerals without local processing only deepens Africa’s underdevelopment and prolongs its economic challenges.Tinubu, therefore, stressed the urgent need for the continent to break free from the dependency.“This has left the continent at the mercy of foreign markets, forcing it to repurchase finished products at much higher prices.“A situation in which the raw minerals are extracted from our countries, exported, refined, and sold to us as finished products merely consolidates the foundations of our misery and pushes us further down the depths of underdevelopment,” he said.The President called on African nations to adopt a new agenda that prioritised local value addition, which was essential to industrialising the continent and providing sustainable economic growth.On the evolution of lithium-ion technology, Tinubu noted that the development had enabled the swift production and manufacturing of portable consumer electronics such as laptops, computers, cellular phones, and electric cars.“We live in a world of electronic mobility in which lithium-powered batteries provide higher specific energy, higher energy density, higher energy efficiency, longer cycle life, and longer calendar life.“The global need for new battery technology has triggered a new scramble for Africa’s critical minerals.“Africa possesses 92 percent of global reserves of platinum, 56 per cent of Cobalt, 54 per cent of Manganese and 36 per cent of Chromium.” These are the minerals employed in the manufacturing of the new batteries. In short, the world needs Africa today more than ever,” he said.Tinubu further emphasised Africa’s determination to move beyond the historical exploitation of its resources, advocating the localisation of the entire mineral value chain within the continent.He assured of his administration’s commitment to adding local value to Nigeria’s mineral resources as part of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group’s (AMSG) vision chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake.Tinubu drew attention to Nigeria’s vast market of over 226 million people, adding that the success of the country’s 10 billion dollars telecoms market is a proof of its growth potential” This is evident in the manufacturing of Lithium batteries, concentrates and components to set up their business and domesticate the value chain from extraction to production in Nigeria.”He affirmed that the AMSG was focused on transforming Africa from a supplier of raw materials into a global mining industry stakeholder.On his part, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, who spoke in his capacity as the Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, laid out the group’s vision to transform Africa’s mining industry through local value addition and industrialisation.The minister criticised the traditional model of mineral extraction in Africa where raw materials are exported for processing abroad.This, according to him, resulted in loss of economic opportunities and jobs on the continent.He maintained that the pattern of trade had left African nations vulnerable, as they were forced to import finished goods at inflated prices.Alake proposed a shift towards local value addition – processing raw minerals into finished goods within Africa – as a strategy for enhancing the continent’s economic independence and contributing more significantly to its GDP.He acknowledged that, although the continent faces significant developmental challenges, Africa’s natural wealth provides a pathway to prosperity if leveraged correctly.The General Secretary of AMSG, Mr Moses Engadu, called for a new vision and political will among African leaders to ensure value addition becomes a sacrosanct condition to granting mineral license to any investor.The roundtable had representatives from investors, development partners, multilateral institutions and major financial institutions in attendance. (NAN)

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NDA Records Successes in Military Training, Academics in 2024

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The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), says it has recorded a lot of successes in military training and academic activities in 2024.

The Commandant of NDA, Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, said this at the Nigerian Defence Academy Social Activities (NDASA), held at the headquarters of the academy Afaka  on Friday in Kaduna.

Ochai said the essence of NDASA was to end training activities of the year.

He said the 2024 NDASA was unique because the academy marked 60 years of existence from 1964-2024.

Also of significance, Ochai said,  NDA had passed out the largest number of officers commissioned into the Armed Forces of Nigeria in 2024.

Equally, he said, in the same year (2024), the academy had the largest number of officers trained outside the country.

He emphasised that the NDA does not only train leaders for the Nigerian Armed Forces, but those for the Nigerian nation and humanity at large.

“After five years of training, we imbibe in officers leadership qualities that are everlasting.

”The traditions, ethos, characters that we instill in our cadets follow them forever and become very useful in all spheres of human endeavors,” Ochai said.

Mr Martins Amaram, Country Security Manager, Nigeria Breweries, PLC , who was the Special Guest of Honour, said the event fostered unity, cultural awareness and comradeship among the cadets and the larger community.

Amaram said, “The academy has always been a beacon of excellence in producing military leaders  for integrity, resilience and capacity to face in a dynamic and complex world .

“Beyond academics and military training the academy still values cultural respect and social engagement, recognising the diversity of our great country. Nigeria.”

He commended NDA for creating the platform where cadets can appreciate the rich cultures and build bonds that transit borders.

Amaram added, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria are playing a critical role in ensuring the stability and progress of our nation. “

He urged the academy to continue to record more successes in its mission of excellence and service to the nation.

Report says that awards were given to deserving soldiers who distinguished themselves in 2024.

report says that 22 soldiers were decorated from Warrant Officer(WO) to Master Warrant Officers(MWO). (NAN)

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Corps Member Donates Delivery Kits to Pregnant Women in Katsina

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A Corps member serving in Katsina State, Blessing Ene-Ameh, has distributed free delivery kits to 50 pregnant women in Mani town, Mani Local Government Area of the state

The corps member distributed the delivery kits to the expectant mothers in Mani on Friday as part of her personal Community Development Service (CDS)project.

Eneh-Ameh said that she visited a hospital in the area during one of her group CDS programmes and observed that the hygiene of women in the antenatal and children’s wards was not too good.

The corps member also stated that she had noticed that the turn up of pregnant women for antenatal care was very low.

She said, ”This attracted my attention to the need to educate pregnant women on its importance.

“There is also the need for them to keep themselves and their surroundings very neat to avoid infections for themselves and their babies.

“The aim was also to educate them on the importance of planning for the future of the baby.

”They also need to be staying clean to reduce the risk of contracting infections and other diseases by both the mothers and children, as well as the community in general.

“The training will empower the women to be able to handle and bring up children for the family,”  Eneh-Ameh explained.

The NYSC Coordinator in the state, Alhaji Sa’idu Ibrahim, commended the corps member for her ingenuity and magnanimity to carry out the project.

Represented by the Local Government Inspector, Alhaji Abdulrazak Ismail-Tsiga, the coordinator urged the corps members serving in the state and other parts of the country to emulate her. (NAN)

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FUSHO Ag VC Promises Collaboration with Lydia Memorial Hospital

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By David Torough, Abuja

The Acting Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), Prof. Stephen Abah has promised a stronger collaboration with the Memorial Hospital, Ugbokolo for better health services to the people.

Prof. Abah stated this when he received a team of management of the hospital led by the Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director, Dr.

Mark Ogbodo on Thursday in his office on a courtesy visit.

The Vice Chancellor expressed his profound gratitude and thanked the management of the hospital for the visit and described the CEO of the Hospital, Dr. Ogbodo as a long time friend who has a quest for excellence.

On his part, Dr Mark Ogbodo, who is a FUHSO Ambassador and the Immediate Past Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Medical Association, Benue State Branch as well as the Immediate Past Secretary of the Association of the Nigerian Authors, Benue State Chapter said that the visit was to congratulate Prof.

Abah on his recent well deserved feat as the FUSHO Acting Vice Chancellor.

Dr. Ogbodo who described Prof. Abah as a great achiever and mentor to many and whose achievements are commendable, presented to him, on behalf of the Hospital, an Award of Excellence, in recognition of his exceptional achievements and contributions to academic and medical excellence in Nigeria, examplary leadership prowess and in appreciation of his countless courtesies extended to Lydia Memorial Hospital.

He added that the Hospital’s vision is to ensure a complete state of well-being of patients and promote healthy medical practices in all forms with the mission to provide affordable and easily accessible excellent healthcare services through God’s gifted hands in the purest forms is also poised to deliver the best healthcare services to the people.

Other dignitaries at the occasion were the University’s Bursar, Librarian, Registrar and other members of the university management.

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