As part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to France, the Chairman of UBA Group, Tony Elumelu in the presence of President Tinubu and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, signed a landmark business cooperation agreement with the French Finance Minister, Antoine Armand.

The agreement is a significant indication of support by the French Government for the development of UBA’s full banking operations in France.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of UBA Group commented:
”This partnership reinforces our commitment to seamless international banking services for our customers, not just across the 11 Francophone African countries we serve, but Africa as a whole; and French and European customers transacting with Africa.

Expanding into France is a natural progression, with Paris serving as our European Union hub, as we continue to bring Africa and the world together, through innovative financial solutions. Paris will join London, New York and Dubai, as a critical component of our unique global network.”

United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally.

Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.

The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal is set to rule on the appeal filed by Dr. Olufemi Olaleye, the Medical Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, who was convicted of “rape.”

Olaleye allegedly “raped” his wife’s teenage niece and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

He was convicted in October 2023 by Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court. The judge found the case presented by the prosecution “compelling.”

However, Olaleye’s lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), filed an appeal in November 2023, arguing that there was no direct evidence to confirm the alleged victim’s age.

Pinheiro added that the prosecution failed to provide documentation to support its claim that she was 16 years old as of the time of the offence.

The defence also contended that the alleged victim’s testimony was “inconsistent,” noting that she did not initially accuse Olaleye of “rape” when making her statement to the police.

In response, the prosecution maintained that it had established the offences of “defilement” and “sexual assault by penetration” beyond a reasonable doubt, which justified the conviction.

The appellate panel, comprising Justice Olukayode Bada, Justice Mohammad Sirajo, and Justice Folasade Ojo, has reserved its judgment after listening to arguments from both sides.

The ruling is expected to be delivered today, Friday, November 29.

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

Tinubu made this statement during a dialogue with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palais des Élysées, as noted in a press release by Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson.

In a report released in September 2022, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) estimated that Nigeria had 20 million out-of-school children. However, a report published by the World Bank on June 24 revised this figure, stating that there are 11 million out-of-school children in the country, based on the national education data survey of 2020.

Tinubu emphasized that his administration will focus on improving education for Nigerian children through innovative return-to-class initiatives, skills development programs, and a supportive educational framework.

“In order to bridge the gap for some who are of age and have been out of school for a while, we will encourage skills development,” the statement quoted the president as saying.

He also acknowledged the challenges posed by insecurity in certain regions, which make it difficult for children to return to school, but emphasized that efforts are underway to gradually repopulate classrooms.

“The insecurity in some parts of the country makes it hard for children to return to school, but we are gradually repopulating the classrooms. And we need skills development to bridge the gaps,” he said.

The president further highlighted that the “kinetic” strategies implemented have made progress in the national peace-building process.

“With some more effort, we will be able to get some level of stability. We had a very good harvest this year. And as soon as more farmers can go back to the farm, we will have more stability in harvest and supply,” Tinubu stated.

In response, Macron recognized Nigeria’s vast growth potential and the importance of investing in educational initiatives. He also reflected on his own formative experiences during a six-month internship at the French embassy in Nigeria, which included visits to Lagos and Kano.