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Tinubu Woos Nigerians In U.S. To Invest Back Home

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Nigerians resident in the United States (U.S.) got an invitation Wednesday night from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu – they should bring their resources to invest in the Nigerian economy.

The President told a gathering of compatriots at a Town Hall meeting in New York that their fatherland had become home for business opportunities.

The meeting was organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on the sidelines of the ongoing 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Tinubu also urged Nigerians eking out their living in the U.S. to rise above setbacks and adopt a new mindset that would enable them succeed in all of their endeavours.

He said: “I want to give you a measure that will resonate with you. I was once a Diasporan. What you have been through, I have been through it. Change of mindset is necessary. Take it this night that Nigeria is home for business opportunities.

“Also, anywhere you stay, there is always going to be an opportunity in it and in everything you do, there is always going to be an opportunity, if you know how to search and put your mind to it.”

The President said he was pleased with Nigerians’ exemplary conduct and how they had continued to do well in their country of residence.

He said: “You are lucky to be among those who are celebrated for good manners and behaviour and are operating in an acceptable manner.

“I’m very proud of you; I have also been a beneficiary of inspiration, determination, commitment and perseverance and that is all you need to pull through.

“But, we need you back home, Nigeria has arrived; forget the frustration of the previous years’ leaderships.”

Tinubu, who spoke on plans for out-of-school children, the healthcare programme and the need to eradicate poverty, said Nigeria was a blessed country.

The president said: “Sincerely, we don’t have any reason to be poor. We are just poor in some leadership areas. That is what I harped on during my campaign. It was a very gruesome campaign but I won the election. If I didn’t throw myself into it with strong determination and resolve, I wouldn’t have won.

“There were so many hurdles on my way that would have stopped me. I refused to be stopped. Many of you here that are contesting elections can do the same.”

He also urged them to embrace one another, stressing that there should not be sentiments and discrimination among them.

“You ought to embrace one another. No labeling, you should remove ethnic identity that tend to differentiate us. We are one single family, living in the same house, but living in different rooms.”

Setting the tone for the meeting, NiDCOM chairperson, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, introduced some Nigerians excelling in their chosen fields in the U.S. to the president.

Some of the speakers expressed their delight in the leadership courage of the president and to continue to support him in his efforts to reform Nigeria.

Oye Owolewa, who is the first Nigerian-American elected into the U.S. Congress, said 25 per cent of business owners in the U.S. were black but 1.7 per cent got federal contracts.

Owolewa, who represents Washington DC, said they have been supporting people to take advantage of such opportunities for their economic empowerment.

“Those are the opportunities to make investors biggest in New York. In my office, we do not just talk, we teach our people how to get contracts, we teach our people how to get grants,” he said.

A Nigerian-American, Olufunmilola Obe, an Inspector working in the New York Police Department (NYPD), briefed the president on her efforts to make Africa, especially Nigeria, proud in her office.

Obe was the coordinator of an African Law Enforcement Organisation, an association within the NYPD, as Vice President and the first African-ever to be promoted to the rank of an Inspector in the history of NYPD.

Zuriel Oduwole, an American education advocate and film maker, famous for her works on the advocacy for the education of girls in Africa, said notwithstanding her work – involvement in peace mediation, including that of 2015, peace mediation between Guyana and Venezuela, and in 2018, invited by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of Egypt to help get peace there as well, she remains proudly Nigerian.

Those who accompanied the President are: Ministers Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs); Adegboyega Oyetola (Marine and Blue Economy); Nigeria Permanent Representative to the UN, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande; Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S.,Mrs Uzoma Emenike and her husband, Ikechi Emenike; Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Lot Egopija and Consul-General in Atlanta, Amina Samaila.

Others were: Governors Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom); Uba Sani (Kaduna) and AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq (Kwara).

Prominent Nigerians, who participated include: Healthcare Logistics Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Oje Russel; community activist/NIDO President (New York chapter) Bobby Diggi Olisa; NIDO President (New Jersey) Dr. Adeola Popoola; a youthful Artificial Intelligence (AI) guru/CHIPLAB CEO Ola Fadiran; renowned Physician and President of Nigerian American Public Affairs Committee (NAPAC), Dr. Nelson Aluya and a New York-based medical doctor, Dr. Bola Omotosho.

 

 

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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race

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The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”

He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”

Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.

He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.

“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”

The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.

He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”

“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”

Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.

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Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency

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The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.

In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.

Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote

Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.

The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.

‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.

President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded

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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience

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Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.

The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.

In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.

He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”

The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.

Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.

“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”

Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.

“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”

The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.

By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.

The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.

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