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Reps order Wike to appoint auditor-general for FCT area councils

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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Reps order Wike to appoint auditor-general for FCT area councils

THE House of Representatives has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to appoint a substantive auditor-general for the area councils in accordance with extant laws. 

The House resolution was based on a motion by Obordor Mitema, who represents Ogbia Federal Constituency, and seconded by Usman Bala during the Public Accounts Committee’s hearing on Wednesday, February 26. 

The panel observed that the absence of a substantive auditor-general had delayed the signing and transmission of audited account reports, as required by the Constitution.

While receiving a presentation from the Acting Auditor-General for the Area Councils, Abdullahi Salihu, the committee chairman, Bamidele Salam, emphasised the need for the committee’s intervention to resolve the issue.

“Honourable colleagues, I think we should step into this. As I said, when we resumed in October 2023, the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation in Nigeria was vacant for about two years.

“The former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to make an appointment. And so, audit reports were not submitted. When we came in, my Senate counterpart decided to write letters to the President and make some advocacy upon which a substantive one was appointed.”

He further said that the committee might need to summon the minister to explain the reasons behind the delay in the appointment.

In his presentation, the acting auditor-general highlighted several breaches, including the non-submission of audited financial reports for 2023–2024, failure to remit pension deductions to the pension commission, and the non-submission of available audited reports to the committee.

He also explained that most of the infractions occurred under previous administrations, as he has only served in an acting capacity for six months.

Responding, a committee member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency. Billy Osawaru, urged the committee to enforce the full weight of the law on the Office of the Auditor-General for the infractions committed, emphasising that such actions must be addressed.

 

Unity Bank Posts N59.3B in Gross Earnings, Grows Deposits by 23% in 2023 FY

Press Release
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Unity Bank Posts N59.3B in Gross Earnings, Grows Deposits by 23% in 2023 FY
Retail lender, Unity Bank Plc posted gross earnings of N59.3 billion for the full year ended December 31, 2023, representing a growth of 3.84% year-on-year.
In its audited financials submitted to the NGX Group Limited, the Bank also witnessed improvements across key performance indicators, including a significant appreciation of customer deposits by 23% to N402.9 billion from N327.4 billion within the period under review – an indication of sustained retail growth and customer confidence.
Other key highlights of the full-year results include the total assets which stood at N472.5 billion; net fee and income commission, N5.2 billion and an increase in interest income by 9.6% to 53.7 billion from N48.8 billion within the period.
Commenting on the result, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Oluwatomi Somefun said the Bank had issued a profit alert to reflect revaluation loss arising from Naira devaluation which was due to acute shortage of Forex that created an inclement business environment and, on the aggregate, set in an economic headwind.
 She noted, however, that in the full-year statement, this has bottomed out and the key performance indicators are rebounding from the low level of growth and negative trends that characterised the year.
Mrs. Somefun stated: “As we begin to see the margins being closed, it is an indication that the measures being taken to revamp all aspects of the business is being well received by the market: be it workable recapitalisation plan, aggressive drive for asset creation, product innovation, or digital banking.”
“We will need to covet the improvements and further build upon it. As a corporate brand, we have a lot that is keeping us going: the positive sentiments and optimism, the growing franchise of the business and steady growth in different segments of the retail market across all the geo-political zones of Nigeria,” She said.
She added, “We have the right indicators to reclaim lost grounds – innovating with the development and soon to be launched omnichannel digital app to improve reliability, customer experience, support diverse products functionality which will impact earnings, income and profitability.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has recently approved a business combination with another innovative Bank in Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in the Bank’s growth strategy as it advances its recapitalization plans.
This partnership is built on a shared vision to redefine the banking experience for our customers and will drive the transformation of the consolidated entity.
By leveraging Unity Bank’s extensive branch network and strong customer relationships alongside the entity’s digital expertise and commitment to innovation, we aim to create a seamless integration of traditional and modern banking services.
Amid a review of key highlights that support the steady growth of the retail business, analysts are of the view that the Bank has continued to reflect a good outlook in terms of perception and confidence in the market, which by and large creates an entity with remarkable resilience whilst investors’ sentiments remain positive.

Niger State’s 2025 budget: A delicate balance between expenditure and revenue

Mustapha USMAN  and  James EMMANUEL
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Niger State’s 2025 budget: A delicate balance between expenditure and revenue

NIGER State’s 2025 budget has again raised concerns, with the government proposing an ambitious N1.56 trillion expenditure, despite a history of low budget performance and heavy reliance on federal allocations. 

Given the state’s weak internally generated revenue (IGR) and inconsistent foreign investments, analysts are questioning whether this budget is grounded in financial reality or political optimism.

A review of Niger State’s financial performance in recent years shows recurring gap between budget projections and actual execution. In 2023, the government revised its budget from ₦243.6 billion to ₦473.95 billion, yet only 40.29 per cent was implemented.

Similarly, in 2024, despite increasing the budget to ₦829.43 billion, performance by the third quarter stood at just 30.42 per cent, raising concerns over the feasibility of the 2025 proposal.

Reliance on FAAC, weak IGR, low FDI

The ICIR reports that the state has struggled to boost its internally generated revenue, with earnings between N5.7 billion and N21.6 billion from 2014 to 2023. The earnings saw a gradual increase over the years, starting from NGN 5.7 billion in 2014 and rising to NGN 5.9 billion in 2015.

In 2016, there was a slight decrease to NGN 5.8 billion but earnings picked up again in 2017, reaching NGN 6.5 billion.

A significant jump occurred in 2018, with earnings surging to NGN 10.4 billion, followed by further growth in 2019, reaching NGN 13.6 billion. However, 2020 saw a decline to NGN 10.5 before a recovery in 2021, where earnings climbed to NGN 16.2. This upward trend continued in 2022, with earnings reaching NGN 16.9. before peaking at NGN 21.6 in 2023.

In contrast, the state’s total Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations between 2015 and August 2024 reached N544.54 billion, making FAAC the primary revenue source. 

The allocations from FAAC stood at N66.09 billion between January and August 2024, according to The ICIR analysis. In 2023, the state got N78.9 billion while in 2022, it got N63.2 billion from the same FAAC allocation. The trend shows an increase from 2020, when the state got N54.5 billion.

Similarly, the state’s FDI inflow has been inconsistent. Between 2019 and 2024, Niger State secured only $17.92 million (approximately N25 billion) in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), with zero inflows recorded in 2021, 2022, and the third quarter of 2024.

In 2020, the state recorded $16.36 million, but the inflows dropped drastically to $1.5 million in 2023.

With a projected N140 billion in total revenue for 2024, Niger State is already struggling to finance its revised 829.43 billion budget. 

The new N1.56 trillion proposal for 2025, however, raises question of where  the extra funding will come from as experts say even in an optimistic scenario where FAAC increases and IGR improves, the state still faces a funding gap of over N1.4 trillion.

Meanwhile, this isn’t the first time Niger State has set high financial targets without meeting them. In 2023, the government revised its budget from N243.6 billion to N473.95 billion, but actual performance stood at just 40.29 per cent. The same pattern continued into 2024, with only 30.42 per cent of the budget executed by the Q3.

This was the same situation in 2019 and and 2022 when the state recorded 42.27 per cent and 41.84 per cent respectively.

While the government may be banking on increased federal allocations or borrowing, experts warn that an over independence on FAAC makes the budget vulnerable to external economic shocks. 

Harrison Edeh, a financial and economic  journalist, explained that without a significant boost in internal revenue and sustained foreign investment, the ambitious budget targets will remain out of reach.

He further highlighted concerns over the ambitious nature of the budget, which largely depends on federal oil revenue allocations. 

He noted that fluctuations in oil prices, combined with Nigeria’s inconsistent fulfillment of OPEC quotas, could jeopardise state funding if not offset by robust internal revenue streams.

He also emphasised the urgent need for Niger State to capitalise on its vast mineral and agricultural resources to reduce its heavy reliance on Federal Allocation (FARC) for revenue.

Edeh argued that tapping into agribusiness and other local industries could dramatically boost the state’s economy, noting that given Niger State’s extensive arable land, there is significant potential for large-scale agricultural ventures. 

“The budget is overly ambitious because most of the budget estimates and the budget generalists relied on allocations from the federal government  allocation so when you look at what the state is generating internally and their domestic debts you may not be convinced that they will be able to fund that kind of budget without relying on maybe developmental agencies. So the most important thing is that they cut their clothes according to their size and focus on maintaining a trajectory that will enable them to meet at least 80 or 90 percent of the budget because with the oil price fluctuations many states may not be able to fund the budget if Nigeria for instance did not meet up with OPEC quota of oil many states will not be able to fund their budgets.”

“Niger State is blessed with lots of mineral resources. They can look into agriculture, instead of depending holistically on FAAC allocation. It’s very important that they look at other sources of revenue for the states, so that they cannot just be relying on FAAC for their needs. They had arable land, which is larger than some countries. So, they can do farming as an agribusiness,” he added.

Again, Dangote drops petrol price to N825

Ehime ALEX
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Again, Dangote drops petrol price to N825

THE Dangote Petroleum Refinery said it has reduced its ex-depot (gantry) price of petrol to N825 per litre.

The ex-depot price is at which the marketers buy the product at the refinery depots before putting their mark-up price for sales at filling station retail outlets.

The management announced this in a statement on Wednesday, February 26.

It said the price drop takes effect from Thursday, February 27.

The reduction came barely one month after the company slashed its ex-depot petrol price to N890.

Precisely on February 2, the Dangote refinery dropped its ex-depot price of petrol from N950 to N890, citing the decline in the price of crude oil at the international market, The ICIR reported.

“This strategic price adjustment is designed to provide essential relief to Nigerians in anticipation of the upcoming Ramadan season, while also supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic recovery policy by alleviating the financial burden on the Nigerian populace.

“It is important to note that Dangote Petroleum Refinery has consistently lowered the prices of petrol and other refined petroleum products to the benefit of Nigerians. This marks the second price reduction of PMS in February 2025, following a previous decrease of N60.00 earlier in the month,” the management said.

The Dangote refinery had extended a similar gesture during the last Christmas season when it reduced the gantry price of its petrol by N70.50, from N970 to N899.50 per litre.

It was part of its commitment to easing the cost of living and providing relief to Nigerians during the yuletide season, it stated.

“This reduction has positively impacted the overall cost of living, benefiting various sectors of the economy, and has also ensured that Nigerians did not experience the perennial fuel scarcity and price hikes typically associated with the yuletide season.

“Nigerians will be able to purchase the high-quality Dangote petrol at the following prices in all our partners’ retail outlets,” Dangote refinery said.

With the new adjustment in its ex-depot price of petrol, the refinery said the MRS Holdings filling stations would now sell for N860 per litre in Lagos, N870 in the South-West, N880 per litre in the North, and N890 per litre in the South-South and South-East respectively.

“The same product will also be available at the following prices in AP (Ardova Petroleum) and Heyden stations: N865 per litre in Lagos, N875 per litre in the South-West, N885 per litre in the North, and N895 per litre in the South-South and South-East,” it added.

The refinery said it is assuring the public of a consistent supply of petroleum products, with sufficient reserves to meet domestic demand, as well as a surplus for export to enhance the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

It called on oil marketers to support its initiative, ensuring that Nigerians remain the primary beneficiaries of the effort.

“This collective action will contribute to the broader economic recovery plan led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is committed to making Nigeria self-sufficient in refined petroleum products and establishing the country as a leading oil export hub,” the management of Dangote added.

With the consistent drop in the price and export of its refined petroleum products, the Dangote Petrochemical refinery company is gradually showing its market dominance in the Nigerian petroleum industries while the state-owned oil firm, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), is behind.

Lately, the Dangote refinery sold two cargoes of aviation fuel to Saudi Aramco, the national oil company of Saudi Arabia.

In its monthly report for January 2025, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) noted that the emergence of Dangote refinery has reduced the importation of petroleum products from Europe to Nigeria.

“The ongoing operational ramp-up efforts at Nigeria’s new Dangote refinery and its gasoline (petrol) exports to the international market will likely weigh further on the European gasoline market.

“Continued gasoline production in Nigeria, a country that has relied heavily on imports to meet its domestic fuel needs in the past, will most likely continue to free up gasoline volumes in international markets which will call for new destinations and flow adjustments for the extra volumes going forward,” OPEC stated.

The 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery built by billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote is eying eyes full capacity operations by next month, but it is currently operating at 85 per cent capacity.

When it finally starts operating at full capacity, the refinery is expected to enhance its supply links to both local and international supply chains while also influencing market pricing and control mechanisms across the country.

In recent times, there have been pockets of petrol queues in retail outlets loading petrol products from the Dangote refiner,y, which is not unconnected to the price mechanism and availability of the product as most NNPCL filling stations are most times not open to motorists to buy products.

The ICIR observed earlier this week that motorists in some parts of Lagos experienced petrol queues as the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) embarked on strike action.

The strike began on Sunday after tanker drivers accused police officers of extortion and harassment, citing frequent cases of intimidation and illegal levies imposed on them while transporting petrol.

According to NUPENG, despite repeated appeals to law enforcement agencies and the federal government, the situation has persisted, forcing them to halt operations.

In a related development, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), Southwest zone, had on Monday, February 24 threatened to shut down its operations across the Southwest over the arrest of 30 tankers by the Lagos state government.

The 30 tankers bearing 45,000 litres of petrol product were reportedly towed out of the Dangote Refinery by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASMA).

These incidents have led to queues being witnessed in some suburbs in Lagos state amid fewer operations of NNPCL retail outlets.

Benue varsity shuts down over students abduction

Mustapha USMAN
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Benue varsity shuts down over students abduction

THE management of Joseph Sarwuaan Tarka University of Agriculture, Makurdi, formerly known as the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has ordered the immediate closure of the institution following the abduction of three students by unidentified armed men. 

The management granted a one-week mid-semester break and directed that all students vacate their hostels by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26.

In an internal memo titled “Security Situation on Campus,” issued on Wednesday and signed by Registrar John David, the university confirmed that three students were abducted by the kidnappers.

It noted that the abduction occurred at around 8:00 pm on Tuesday, February 25, between Zamfara Hostel and Ring Road in the North Core area of the campus.

The memo reads: “Sequel to the unfortunate incident that occurred on campus (Tuesday, February 25th, 2025) at about 8:00 pm, where unknown armed men abducted three students between Zamfara Hostel and Ring Road in North Core, the university management, after a series of consultative meetings with security agencies and stakeholders, resolved the following: “The university management condemns the incident in its entirety. The government and the security agencies have been duly informed about the unfortunate incident.

“All staff, students, and the general public are enjoined to remain calm as security agencies are working tirelessly to secure the release of the abducted students.”

It further announced that the inaugural lecture scheduled for February 26, had been postponed indefinitely. 

“The inaugural lecture scheduled for today, February 26th, 2025, is postponed indefinitely. In solidarity with the students and parents of the abducted students, the university management has granted a one-week mid-semester break to all students to adequately address the security challenges on campus.

“Consequently, all students are to vacate their hostels by 4:00 pm today, Wednesday, February 26th, 2025,” the memo added.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sewuese Anene, confirmed in a telephone conversation with The ICIR that a team of investigators had been dispatched to the scene. 

The ICIR reported that the incident ignited protests on campus, with students rallying and brandishing tree branches to demand immediate action from university authorities.

The latest incident came amid a chain of insecurity in Benue State, which has seen a spate of kidnappings in recent years. 

In a similar incident last August 2024, over 20 medical and dental students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos were abducted while en route to an annual conference in Enugu State. 

Former AGF accused of stealing N1.96bn begs court for plea bargain

Bankole ABE
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Former AGF accused of stealing N1.96bn begs court for plea bargain

FORMER Acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Anamekwe Nwabuoku, facing trial for alleged N1.96 billion fraud, has pleaded with the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, to grant him time to negotiate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).   

Nwabuoku, who is facing a nine-count charge, made the plea on Wednesday, February 26, after the EFCC lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, a senior advocate, told the court that it brought five more witnesses to testify against him.

Through his lawyer, Isidore Udenko, Nwabuoku informed the court that he had hired a senior advocate to facilitate negotiation with the EFCC.

According to him, this development comes after the defendant’s initial attempt to reach an agreement with the EFCC failed, leading to the trial.

The EFCC’s lawyer, Iheanacho, expressed no opposition to the defendant’s request.

Consequently, the trial judge postponed the case, scheduling a future date to either receive a settlement report or continue the hearing.

Nwabuoku was appointed in May 2022 to temporarily oversee the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation after his predecessor, Ahmed Idris, was suspended and tried for allegedly laundering N80.2 billion in public funds.

However, shortly after his resumption, the EFCC alleged that he abused his office by stealing public funds.

EFCC investigations led to his removal from office in July 2022, just weeks after he took over.

Nwabuoku was subsequently charged with fraud alongside Felix Nweke, a director of the Federal Civil Service. However, Nweke later agreed to testify against Nwabuoku and was dropped as a co-defendant.

The EFCC alleged that Nwabuoku violated the Money Laundering Prohibition Act by using four companies to siphon off N1.96 billion in public funds.

Nweke testified that the stolen funds were channelled into bank accounts controlled by one Gideon Joseph, the sole signatory.

This is not the first time accused persons have pleaded with the EFCC to utilise plea bargaining or agreement in resolving fraud cases against them.

In several high-profile cases in the country, including those of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tafa Balogun, former Bayelsa State governor Diepreye Alamieyesagha, and former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore, the plea bargain strategy was employed.

A plea bargain is a negotiated agreement between the prosecutor and the accused, where the accused pleads guilty to a charge in exchange for a reduced sentence.

The EFCC employs this approach to recover looted resources from criminals. However, critics argue that plea bargaining has led to lighter punishments for criminals and may inadvertently encourage corrupt practices.

For instance, the former Inspector-General of Police, Balogun, was initially charged with 70 counts of corruption, but the charges were reduced to 8 counts of money laundering after reaching an agreement with the court and EFCC. He was later convicted and jailed for only six months.

Others who received lesser punishment after a plea bargain include a former Managing Director (MD) of Oceanic Bank, Cecilia Ibru.

Ibru faced a 25-count charge but secured a plea bargain. The court convicted her on three counts and sentenced her to six months imprisonment. She also forfeited 94 properties and shares valued at N191.4 billion.

Also involved in the plea bargain is a former deputy governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore, who was accused of laundering money allegedly misappropriated by former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki. Omisore later entered a plea bargain with the EFCC to refund over N1.3 billion.

However, despite its benefits, the EFCC’s use of plea bargaining has raised concerns about the leniency of punishments and the potential for corrupt practices to persist.

Dart Center opens application for Ochberg fellowship

Abdullahi MURITALA
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Dart Center opens application for Ochberg fellowship

​THE Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma is currently accepting applications for the 2025 Ochberg Fellowship.

This is a weeklong seminar designed for senior and mid-career journalists aiming to deepen their understanding of emotional trauma and upscaling their reporting on conflict, tragedy, and violence.

The Ochberg Fellowships are open to exceptional journalists from any part of the world. with at least five years of professional journalism experience working across all media.

The fellowship would take place from July 29 to August 3, 2025, at Columbia University in New York City.

The application deadline is March 3, 2025, at 5:00 pm ET.

To apply, please visit the official application portal here.

For detailed guidelines and eligibility criteria, refer to the Ochberg Fellowship Guidelines. If you have any questions, you can contact the Dart Center at programs@dartcenter.org.

Protests rock Benue varsity as kidnappers abduct students

Mustapha USMAN
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Protests rock Benue varsity as kidnappers abduct students

At least two students of Joseph Saawuaan Tarka Federal University, Makurdi, formerly the Federal University of Agriculture, were abducted from campus on Tuesday, February 25, by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

The Benue State Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Sewuese Anene, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with The ICIR, noting that a team of investigators had been mobilised to the scene.

She also noted that a detailed update about the abduction would be provided in due course.

”Yesterday, we received information that two students were kidnapped but I don’t have the details yet. We have sent a team of investigators there to investigate,” she said.

According to reports, the abduction occurred around 8:30 pm on Tuesday, as the students were moving from their hostels to the area designated for reading in the North Core section of the campus.

The incident has sparked protests on campus, with fellow students rallying and marching around the campus with tree branches to demand immediate action from the university authorities.

Meanwhile, the university has yet to officially react to the incident and efforts to seek updates from the university Head of Information, Rosemary Waku, proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.

The ICIR reports that Benue has been one of the epicentres of conflict and insecurity in Nigeria in recent years. While armed herdsmen are on the rampage in one part of the state, local bandits are wreaking havoc in the other.

This latest kidnapping adds to a chain of kidnappings in the state. In a similar incident in August 2024, over 20 medical and dental students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos were abducted in the state while en route to Enugu for an annual conference. 

The students were subsequently released a few days later. Confirming the release to The ICIR in a chat on Saturday, August 24, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command said the students were rescued on Thursday, August 23. 

INEC releases timetable for FCT area council polls

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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INEC releases timetable for FCT area council polls

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the timetable for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, scheduled to take place on February 21, 2026. 

In a statement on Wednesday, the commission said that voting would commence at 8:30 a.m. across all polling units within the FCT, emphasising that the elections would cover the six area councils in the nation’s capital.

While urging voters to ensure they possess their PVCs to participate in the exercise, the commission confirmed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) would be employed for the elections.

“Only eligible voters with valid Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and whose names are listed on the voter register will be permitted to vote,” said the commission.

The ICIR reported in 2024 that INEC said it would not conduct chairmanship elections for the six area councils in the FCT in 2025 due to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended).

According to the commission, instead of the three years specified by the Electoral Act of 2010, the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) provides a four-year term for chairmen and other elected council members.

Yakubu said the current elected council leaders’ tenure would end in June 2026.

 

Nigerians react as 22-year-old Nigerian makes nominee list for Nobel Peace Prize

Bankole ABE
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Nigerians react as 22-year-old Nigerian makes nominee list for Nobel Peace Prize

NIGERIANS have reacted to the nomination of 22-year-old Zuriel Oduwole for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

While some congratulated her, others expressed doubts about her ability to clinch the prestigious award.

This came after the chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, congratulated Oduwole on her nomination for the prize.

Dabiri-Erewa, in her congratulatory message, said the nomination was not a surprise to her due to Oduwole’s tireless work in advocating for girls’ education over the last 12 years across Africa and the Caribbean.

She also commended her work in the area of mediation between nations in South America and the Middle East.

Dabiri-Erewa expressed optimism that Zuriel would win the topmost prize going by her determination, zeal and enthusiasm for success.

She appealed to youths to imitate the impactful spirit of the nominee and ignore any acts capable of tarnishing the country’s image.

Meanwhile, Nigerians reacted to the nomination on X with divergent views.

An X user with the name @Wale_Aduroja congratulated her.

“Congratulations as @ZurielOduwole is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The @NobelPrize recognises innovative and intellectual youths who have contributed to well-meaning developments and socio-economic growth among the global UN features of global goals on peace and security,” he tweeted.

Another X user, @JahBoi08199585, questioned Oduwole’s nomination. “But my question is where and when is she advocating all these and no one has ever heard about her? We knew Malala Yousufzai from her work in Pakistan. Even in Nigeria, she was big. But this lady, whoever is throwing her up is trying to deceive Nigerians and the world at large,” he posted.

In his tweet, an X user @Jaybraj1  declared the nomination a great accomplishment.

“Great achievement. She has put her name on the map. Greater height and I hope she wins,” he tweeted.

For X user @Chukslahero, he believes the nominee will not win the award.

“Let me be the first to say it here; she won’t win any Noble Laureate. Come back to this my quote when it’s all over,” he boasted.

In another tweet, X user @ChurchillNwagwu stated that young Nigerians are creative and could hold their own on the global stage if the right opportunities are given for them to unleash their potential.

“Congratulations, my sister; you will surely bring the prize home. Your nomination is a testament that our young Nigerians are still creative and can still hold their own on the global stage if the right opportunities are given for them to unleash their potential.  

The ICIR reports that Oduwole’s dedication has earned her prestigious awards, including the Forbes Leadership Award, CARE Global Impact Award, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon Award.

Throughout her 12-year journey, Oduwole has had the privilege of meeting with 36 presidents and prime ministers, using these opportunities to learn about and address pressing socio-economic challenges.

Her family’s rich history also played a significant role in shaping her perspective as her grandfather, Michael Oduwole, left Nigeria in 1954 to pursue a medical degree in Scotland, where her father, Ademola Oduwole, was born.

She is an advocate for peace, education, and gender equality.

At just 22 years old, she has already made a significant impact on global diplomatic efforts, focusing on education and peace.

Born in Los Angeles to Nigerian parents, her efforts have been instrumental in improving education access for marginalised communities and promoting systemic change.

One of her notable achievements was mediating a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela at just 13 years old.

The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the world’s most esteemed honours, acknowledging individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to peace and human rights. Past recipients include notable figures such as Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama, Wangari Maathai, and Kofi Annan.

Oduwole’s nomination is a significant milestone, not just for her but also for Nigeria, reflecting the country’s growing influence on the global stage.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee will announce the 2025 laureate later this year. While the outcome is uncertain, Oduwole’s nomination is widely seen as a victory for youth advocacy.

 

 

 

 

 

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