The Ogun Assembly, on Friday, ordered the authorities of the state Polytechnic of Health and Allied Sciences, Ilese-Ijebu to avail it with additional documents to aid its committee on Public Accounts to consider the institution’s financial report.

The assembly said that this was to enable its  committee to promote accountability and transparency in carrying out its oversight function.

The Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Damilare Bello, made the request after the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Yinka Akinbo, had presented the  institution’s 2023 financial report before the lawmakers in Abeokuta.

The Assembly also requested for the immediate submission of additional documents on honorarium on sitting allowance, other equipment and purchase of motor vehicle.

Bello, however, commended the management of the institution for achieving some level of increment in the revenue drive of the institution,

He lauded the institution’s management team for the re-accreditaion of some courses and 11 others to further broaden the educational programmes being taught in the polytechnic.

The chairman of the committee added that the exercise was not meant to witch-hunt, but a part of the constitutional responsibilities of the House of Assembly. (NAN)

The Benue chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says the party is reviewing security protocols of high-ranking officials of the party.

The State APC Chairman, Chief Benjamin Omale, stated this on Friday in Makurdi when he briefed newsmen following an attack on the party’s Legal Adviser, Mr Terhemen Gbeagha.

Omale said an urgent review of security protocols for all party members, especially those in key positions, was underway.

The chairman said they were actively implementing enhanced security measures to safeguard their personnel and prevent similar incidents in the future.

“The safety of our officials is paramount, and we will relentlessly pursue those responsible for this attack.

“I extend my gratitude to Ngbea for his courage in the face of this threat, and I call on the authorities to act swiftly and decisively,” he said.

The chairman said that at approximately 7:00 pm on Thursday near Sahad Stores, Central Area Abuja, Ngbea experienced an attack by unknown gunmen.

He stated that while the legal adviser had parked his vehicle in the area, he noticed another car trailing him.

“Recognising a potential threat, Ngbea immediately took evasive action and called for help, despite sporadic gunfire directed at him.

“During the incident, the assailants exited their vehicle and forcefully broke into Ngbea’s Hilux.

“They stole a bag containing a new laptop and some documents. It is important to note that the stolen documents are not even related to the cases at the tribunal.

“The perpetrators attempted to start the vehicle; however, their efforts were thwarted by the advanced security gadget installed in the vehicle, a measure which undoubtedly helped prevent further escalation.

“We have reason to believe that this was not a random act of violence but rather a deliberate attempt to either kidnap or assassinate Ngbea,” he said.

Omale stated that given the crucial role he has played in ensuring the party’s prospects at the tribunal, the targeted attack was both alarming and unacceptable.

The chairman reassured the public that the party was taking every step possible in response to this incident.

According to him, they have immediately lodged formal reports with the relevant security agencies and are fully cooperating with their investigations. (NAN)

The African Development Bank (AfDB) says it has approved $100 million for the establishment of the Nigerian Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank.
Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President and Chairman, Board of Directors, AfDB, said this in Abuja on Friday, when he delivered the 14th Convocation Lecture of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

The theme of the lecture is: “Advancing Africa’s Positioning within Global Development and Geographical Dynamics. ”
Adesina said the move was to liberate the Nigerian youth financially and provide technical assistance, business development services, equity, quasi-equity and debt financing for businesses of young people across Africa.
“The key to solving unemployment is entrepreneurship. Africa is today experiencing an entrepreneurship boom, with 22 per cent of its working age population starting a business, the highest rate in the world according  to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 2020.

“The leading areas of focus for entrepreneurship are in the sectors of agriculture, retail, services and technology.

“The future is very bright for innovative young entrepreneurs in Africa. This is driven by the rapid expansion of the digital economy which will add $180 billion to Africa’s GDP by 2050, and $712 billion by 2050.
“Africa’s startup ecosystem is taking advantage of the digital economy with more than 600 active startup hubs on the continent.
“Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Egypt have become centres of tech innovations,  driven by youth entrepreneurs in health tech, Agric-tech and e-commerce,” he said.
According to Adesina, the AfDB marshalled out a robust financial development plan for Africa, because the global financial system has been unable to effectively address the challenges facing Africa.
Adesina listed the challenges to include matters of debt, climate change and access to greater financing.
“In addition, the AfDB and its partners approved $614 million for the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises programme to support access to financing for small and medium sized businesses in the creative and digital industries.
“It is a strong strategic partnership which includes the AfDB, the Agence Francaise de Developpment, the Islamic Development Bank and the Bank of Industry.
“The programme plans to add $6.4 billion to the Nigerian economy and create over six million jobs.”
The AfDB said in spite of the gains made over time, the majority of Africa’s youth still lag behind on education.
“For the sake of comparison let’s look at Japan and Africa; while 98.9 per cent of the youth in Japan have completed a secondary education, only 43 per cent of the youth in Africa completed secondary school education.
“In terms of higher education, the gap is stark; while 60 per cent of the youth in Japan are pursuing higher education, only 10 per cent of Africa’s youth enrolled in higher education.
“Among those pursuing higher education, African youth are less enrolled in educational fields that are dominating the world.
“While 30 per cent of Japanese youth in universities pursue science, technology,  engineering and mathematics, less than 25 per cent of students in sub-Saharan Africa are in these fields.
“This puts Africa behind in terms of its preparedness for the fourth industrial revolution, especially in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, automation and cloud computing, which are revolutionising the world,” Adesina added.
He said the bank was already working with the African Union to establish a $300 million African Education,  Science and Technology Innovation Fund, to address the education gap.
Adesina, who lamented that Africa was the only economy in the world without a buffer in case of emergency, urged its leaders to invest heavily in energy, promote development of mineral resources and support technology advancement.
Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Attahiru Jega, a former INEC Chairman, said Adesina had emboldened Africans to understand the efforts that have gone into repositioning the continent.
Jega appreciated the role AfDB had played in ensuring that Africa explored and benefited from its potential, and pursued the path of self sustaining development.
He described Adesina as Nigeria’s ambassador to the international community, as everything said in his lecture pointed to efforts to ensure a free Africa and pursue an independent course towards achieving its development.
The Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, said this year’s convention lecturer was carefully chosen to enable Nigerians to tap from his development experience.
Peters said Adesina’s experience had earned him many international awards, and the reason the university decided to confer on him an honorary doctorate degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)