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Tinubu focused on achieving $1trn economy by 2030 — Presidential aide Nweze

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The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South East, Chioma Nweze, on Friday spoke on strategies for eradicating poverty at the grassroots, promoting financial inclusion, and economically empowering youths and women in the region.

Addressing a large gathering of students and stakeholders during the Grassroots Leadership and Sustainable Development Summit held at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nweze said: “We recognise the immense potential that lies within our region, and as SSA to the President on Community Engagement, we are committed to unlocking it. The Skill-Up South East initiative is a four-month training programme that will equip 97 individuals with skills in tailoring and fashion designing.

“It is essential to acknowledge the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in driving this agenda. The President’s Renewed Hope Agenda prioritises economic stability, investment, and youth empowerment, with a focus on achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

“One of the key initiatives launched by the administration is the Aso Accord on Economic and Financial Inclusion, a multi-pronged blueprint designed to achieve universal access to financial services across Nigeria.

“The accord aims to bridge the significant gaps that have left millions of Nigerians, particularly underserved segments like women, youth, rural communities, and small businesses, without vital financial services.

“The Aso Accord has several key elements, including establishing a High-Level Presidential Council to spearhead reforms and drive the financial inclusion agenda, as well as innovative solutions leveraging government-to-person programmes to directly invest in underserved communities.

“It also includes financial literacy initiatives that seek to integrate financial education into the national curriculum, alongside digital infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening ICT networks nationwide to bridge the digital divide.

“As we move forward, it is crucial that we recognise the critical role financial inclusion plays in driving economic empowerment and sustainable development. By providing access to financial services, we can unlock the potential of individuals, communities, and entire nations.”

The presidential aide urged Nigerian youths and stakeholders in the region to invest in digital payment systems. “To achieve this, we need to strengthen our financial infrastructure. This means investing in digital payment systems, mobile money services, and agent banking to expand financial access to underserved communities. We must also promote financial literacy by integrating financial education into school curricula and providing training programmes for adults to enhance their financial management skills.

 

“As students, you have a critical role to play in promoting financial inclusion and economic empowerment. You can start by acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the financial system effectively.

“You can also explore innovative solutions to financial exclusion, such as mobile banking, fintech, and digital payments. By doing so, you can empower yourselves, your families, and your communities to participate fully in the economy.

“We must support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, MSMEs, which are the backbone of our economy. By providing access to credit, markets, and business development services, we can empower MSMEs to grow and create jobs. This, in turn, will drive economic growth and development, reducing poverty and inequality while fostering empowerment and sustainable development,” she stressed.

In his remarks, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Oguejiofo Ujam, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Dan Nwachukwu, expressed delight at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the various programmes initiated on Community Engagement, South East, to improve the lives of students.

He also commended the Students’ Union Government of the university for executing a solar panel installation project at Manual Hotel, aimed at providing electricity to the area.

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PDP to screen Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday as its sole Presidential aspirant For 2027 race

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has scheduled to screen former president Goodluck Jonathan tomorrow, Tuesday, aMay 19, as the lone presidential candidate of party.

According to a statement from the PDP faction backed by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former governor of Plateau State, Jona Jang and a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom Ikimi have been listed among a committee of 14 members to screen Jonathan described as a lone candidate by the party.

Other members of the committee were Chief Olabode George, Babangida Aliyu, Maryam ciroma, Zainab Maina, Josephine Anenin, Dr. Abdul Bulama, Dr. Esther Uduehi, Edo State PDP chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, Dr. Sunday Solarium and Chief Anicho Okoro, who would serve as administrative secretary of the committee.

Last week, the national Publicity Secretary of the faction, Ini Ememobong, disclosed that former president Jonathan has successfully registered as a member of the party in the fresh digital registration exercise directed by INEC.

The PDP faction also announced that it was set to screen 748 house of representatives aspirants, 198 senatorial aspirants, and 112 governorship aspirants.

The screening committee would screen 2122 states houses of assembly aspirants. The exercise will commence tomorrow, Tuesday in different states.

According to the statement, the screening exercise would take place nationwide on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

The statement said the Interim National Working Committee (iNWC) has also released the names of members to serve on the Screening Committees and Screening Appeal Panels.

It added that the publication of the screening details “is in accordance with the party’s guidelines and timetable for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.”

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Oshiomhole wins Edo APC senatorial primaries unopposed

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A former governor and incumbent Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, along with his counterpart Senator Joe Ikpea, sailed through the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary in Edo unopposed, and securing their tickets without a single vote cast against them.

Also Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama emerged the winner in the APC primary for the Edo South senatorial district.

Ogbeide-Ihama won in the seven local government areas of Edo South in the results announced by the Chairman of APC National Assembly Primary Election, Muhammed Ajana at the Urokpota Hall, Benin.

He polled 27,154 votes while his opponents, Senator Neda Imasuen, got 13,580, and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu got 6785.

The elections were hitch-free in Edo North and Edo Central, where there was no contest against the incumbents, Senators Oshiomhole of Edo North and Ikpea of Edo Central, respectively.

Ajana at the Urokpota Hall said the collation arose from votes cast in the seven local government areas made up of 77 wards where elections were conducted by members of the committee.

He said, “There are seven local governments that make up the Edo South Senatorial District. We have heard from the Returning officers from the seven local government areas. From the collation, the cumulative result we have for Edo South Senatorial District is this; Ogbeide-Ihama with 27,154 votes, Imasuen with 13,580 votes and Ize-Iyamu with 6, 785.

“This is the total reflection of what has transpired from the ward level to the local government and the Edo South senatorial district collation centre. With this we await further directives from the National Secretariat, we have done our best by collating the results which is our mandate, to collate the results and send them to the National Secretariat.”

However, it was gathered that Ize-Iyamu emerged as the APC candidate for Edo South Senatorial race. He claimed to have clinched the party’s ticket after defeating Ogbeide-Ihama and Imasuen.

It was claimed that the Chief Returning Officer, Abubakar Muhammad Kabiru, officially declared Ize-Iyamu the winner after securing the highest number of votes cast.

On his part, the senator representing the district condemned the exercise describing it as a sham allegedly designed to favour a preferred aspirant.

Imasuen spoke while reacting to events at his polling unit in Umagbae North Ward 5, Urhokuosa where he said he was denied the opportunity to vote following what he described as a chaotic and manipulated process.

The lawmaker accused leaders of the party of openly adopting a preferred candidate ahead of the exercise and intimidating members into supporting that aspirant.

He said, “There is nothing satisfactory about this sham of election they did today and it is very unfortunate because as a loyal party member, I expected something better than this.”

He said the warning signs emerged days before the primary when some ward chairmen allegedly informed him that they had been directed not to receive him during consultations.

Imasuen claimed that some ward leaders openly told him the party had already adopted a preferred aspirant, identified as Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, making further consultations unnecessary.

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Ajuloopin Suffers Setback as Home Ward Rejects Third Term Return Bid in Kwara APC Primary

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The re-election bid of the member representing Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency, Hon. Raheem Tunji Olawuyi, popularly known as Ajuloopin, suffered a major setback on Friday after party members in his home ward, Omu-Aran Ward 1, boycotted the All Progressives Congress APC House of Representatives primary.

According to party stakeholders and observers present at the exercise, no valid election took place in the ward after members refused to participate in protest against what they described as the lawmaker’s poor performance after three consecutive terms in the House of Representatives.

Sources in the ward said efforts by some political figures and loyalists to persuade members to back Ajuloopin’s ambition failed, with party faithful insisting they would not endorse what they termed an attempt to impose his candidacy again.

The boycott led to a breakdown of the electoral process in Omu-Aran Ward 1, with many members staying away from the polls entirely. Stakeholders have called on the APC Electoral Committee to disregard any result purportedly presented from the ward, arguing that no credible primary was conducted there.

Political observers in the constituency described the development as a significant blow to Ajuloopin, noting that the rejection came from his own ward and among constituents most familiar with his record.

Preliminary reports from other parts of Irepodun, Isin and Oke-Ero local government areas, where voting proceeded, also indicated weak support for the incumbent. Many party members were said to have voted for alternative aspirants.

APC stakeholders have urged the party leadership to review reports from affected wards and accept only authentic and verifiable results to preserve the credibility of the primaries. They stressed that internal democracy was critical to the party’s prospects in the constituency and warned against imposing unpopular candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

With tension rising across the federal constituency, party faithful said the leadership must listen to grassroots members and allow delegates and supporters to determine the outcome of the primaries.

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