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Dangote Calls For Law Promoting Gender Equality

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The president/chief executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has called for law promoting gender equality in the country.

Speaking at the 2019 Women Corporate Directors Lecture sponsored by Aliko Dangote Foundation, Dangote advocated for a legislature backing that will allow a certain percentage of women in public or private sectors work force.

He stated that “We can start with a proportion of like 30 women to 70 men on the board.”

He noted that increasing the number of women in corporate world lead to increase in innovation and innovative thinking, which opens up the door of fresh perceptive, saying that women on board of directors reduce governance related issues and ultimately result to a better performance.

According to Dangote, from my businesses as well, my three daughters all take on challenging roles as senior executive at the Group level and I can tell you that they have led the businesses to success.

We have a strong number of women at Dangote Industries across board, a lot of women occupy important leadership, and their efficiency have been noticed.

He added that with the caliber of women at this event today, ranging from board executives of various organisation, business executives and top government executives, this is a clear indication that women in the work force have started taking their rightful place in the private, public and social sector in Nigeria and across Africa. 

He however said despite this impressive achievement there is still a lot of work to be done to close the gender gap in the world work place. 

Nigeria women according to Dangote are climbing the corporate ladder and we have a good number of them as CEO of top firms, members of board of directors, chairman or chairperson of board of companies in the like of   former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Nike Akande, chairman of First Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Ibukunoluwa Awosika, chairman of Access Bank, Mosunmola Belo-Olusoga, chairman of Guaranty Trust Bank, Osaretin Demuren, to mention a few.

He added that “At Dangote Group, we practice what we preach and women have excelled to board of directors. We ran an organisation that women aspired to the highest position without hindrances.

He hoped that this meeting will open more doors for women as the world continued to close the gender gap in any organisation.

According to him, the World Bank report showed that women and girls account for 40 per cent of Nigeria population which comes to over 90 million, they represent a huge assets for our country and if we collectively tap into their potentials for the development of our economy. I can assure you that Dangote Group will continue to strengthen and mentor women in assuming leadership role in corporate world.

Speaking on the theme, ‘The courage to Lead; Inspiring Others, Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Success’, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, who is the guest speaker said that gender equality is important as women potentially represent half of the world’s pool of talents and prospects for advancement.

He said “For Africa to prosper, we need to engage and give chance to women to be very active in our politics, economic and business environment.”

He noted that women have special value and should be harness by Africa, saying “Country who have grown in human capital index, then you find those countries women were very active they have truly occupied places in the societies.”

Also, executive director of Dangote Industries, Halima Aliko-Dangote said emphasized the need for equality gender in the country.

She said that in Dangote Group, we are ensuring that stereotypes is seriously eliminated, looking at our board we are having almost 50 per cent of women on the board member.

She also insisted that a bill promoting gender equality should be passed to be passed in enabling having fair represented of women in any organisation.

While wife of former British Prime Minister, Cherie Blair pointed out that people are a nation’s most valuable assets, saying that this leads to the reason of having gender equality across all of society.

She noted further that any country that persistently fails to engage and develop the potential of ‘half of its most valuable asset’ which is women will continue to underperform. 

She added that “We are making progress in this fight with increase in the number of women in the corporate world just like what we have in Nigeria.”

According to her, harnessing the incredible talents and potential of women is not only the right thing to do, it will also create stronger economies and a fairer society for all.

The Women Corporate Directors (WCD) Foundation Nigeria Chapter was launched last year. The foundation is a global membership organisation and community of women corporate directors, and committed, not just to good governance, but to governance with global vision.

Women Corporate Directors is the world’s largest membership organization and community of women corporate board directors.

BIG STORY

Equitorial Guinea Sacks Senior Government Official, Baltasar Engonga Over “Sexcapade”

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The Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, has been dismissed following the discovery of over 400 explicit videos involving him with high-profile women across the country.

The dismissal, ordered by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, was confirmed by Real Equatorial Guinea, which referenced Decree No. 118/2024, issued on November 4.

According to the decree, Engonga’s removal was due to alleged professional misconduct and personal behavior deemed incompatible with his public position.

The scandal surfaced during a fraud investigation involving the 54-year-old economist, leading to a surprise search of his house and office by ANIF officials.

During the search, they uncovered several CDs containing explicit videos that revealed his sexual encounters with different married women.

One of the women involved has since committed suicide. It has not been confirmed whether Engonga will face prosecution for his actions.

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BIG STORY

Kaduna Government Gifts N100,000, Smartphones To 39 Released #EndBadGovernance Protesters

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The Kaduna State government has provided N100,000 in cash, new smartphones, and additional support to 39 #EndBadGovernance protesters who were recently released from detention.

The government facilitated their reunion with their families on Wednesday, following their release from detention.

The reunion ceremony took place at the Children Homes along Kauru Road in Kaduna, where Governor Uba Sani offered support to the protesters, promising to assist them in reintegrating into society.

He assured them of opportunities for empowerment, contingent upon their commitment to lawful and responsible conduct.

Speaking to journalists after the release of the protesters, the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, Abdulkadir Meyere, who represented the governor, revealed that Sani had instructed him to gather the credentials of those who have completed their tertiary education.

‘’The governor promised that some of them will be given start-up capital to begin trading, others will be taught skills, and some will be offered employment,’’ he said.

However, the SSG emphasized that the activities and conduct of the released protesters would be monitored to ensure they maintain good behavior, “before these benefits will be extended to them.”

Meyere also noted that the state government had taken the details of the released detainees, including their contact information, telephone numbers, and the names of their Next of Kins, to facilitate tracking and monitoring.

He further explained that the protesters underwent medical evaluations and received psycho-social counseling to encourage them to make positive changes and become productive members of society.

“Both Islamic and Christian religious leaders preached to them to embrace the teachings of their faiths and avoid bad company, so as to benefit from God’s blessings here and in the hereafter,” he said.

Meyere added that the detainees were each given a phone because they had lost theirs during detention, and ‘’the Governor has graciously given each of them N100,000 as a measure of goodwill.”

The state Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, also addressed the protesters during the reunion, emphasizing the government’s commitment to their welfare.

She stated that the 39 protesters, including two minors aged 16 and 17, had received various forms of support from the government.

“We want you to be ambassadors of peace and preach peace within your peer groups, so you won’t be involved in any unlawful protests.

“We want you to return to a more peaceful environment with your families, and then we can invite you back for further training,” she said to the released protesters.

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BIG STORY

Two Robbers Gunned Down, 23 Suspects Arrested In FCT

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The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has killed two armed robbers during a gun duel and arrested four others in the Jahi area of the nation’s capital.

Additionally, no fewer than five car snatchers were arrested, and 13 stolen vehicles were recovered during operations carried out by the FCT command’s Scorpion Squad.

Speaking on Wednesday while parading the suspects in Abuja, FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, said the armed robbers opened fire on October 21 after seeing police officers who had responded to a distress call about a robbery in the Jahi area.

According to Disu, during the ensuing gun battle, the police neutralized two of the armed robbers, recovered two of their vehicles, and arrested two suspects, Haruna Abdullahi, 32, from Ikara LGA, Kaduna State, and Yerima Usman, 28, from Itoro LGA, Bauchi State.

He said, “Upon sighting the police patrol vehicle, the suspects opened fire, and in the ensuing confrontation, two suspects were neutralized.”

Disu added that after a follow-up operation on October 23, the suspects led police operatives to arrest two additional gang members—Abba Ismail, aka Dan-Abba, and Ashiru Suleiman—who had escaped from the scene.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being part of a gang of armed robbers led by one Dan Auwalu, who is still at large. So far, they have carried out armed robberies in Mabushi, Jahi, and Gishiri. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining gang members,” he stated.

Disu also identified the arrested car-snatching suspects as 32-year-old Arji Thomas from Gwoza LGA, Borno State; Amobi Ndukwe, 40, from Awgu LGA, Enugu State; and Amaechi Sampson, 26, from Imo State.

He said the trio—Thomas, Ndukwe, and Sampson—are members of a notorious car-snatching gang led by one Chidiebere, who is currently on the run.

According to him, the suspects were apprehended just as they were about to sell a stolen blue Toyota Corolla with registration number KTW 2155D.

“It is important to note that both Arji Thomas and Amobi Ndukwe are ex-convicts. During interrogation, they admitted to operating in Garki for the past year and a half, claiming responsibility for numerous car thefts within the metropolis,” Disu added.

Disu also explained how Joseph Abang was arrested. He said one Philemon Olaoluwa reported at the Central Police Station that his mechanic, Abdulhamid Saidu, had absconded with his car—a 2006 ash-colored Honda Accord with registration number RBC 40—after repairing it and taking it to Jos.

He added that Saidu, who is still at large, handed over the vehicle to Abang, who confessed to being part of a gang of car thieves operating in Abuja, Plateau, and Nasarawa states.

Disu said, “Extensive investigations led police operatives of the Central Police Station to Jos, Plateau State, where Joseph Abang was arrested. During interrogation, he informed the police that he belonged to a gang of car thieves who operated in Jos, Abuja, and Nasarawa State.

“He specializes in receiving, remodelling, and selling off vehicles stolen by his gang members. During a search operation at his residence and place of business, two additional vehicles—a Hyundai Accent and a Peugeot 208—suspected to be stolen were also recovered from him. He is in custody and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.”

Disu also revealed that a Toyota Hilux with registration number 03A309 FG, stolen by a newly employed security guard, Usman Abubakar, was recovered. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspect.

Disu explained that the vehicle, owned by Mr. Frank Udah, was stolen on October 7 by Abubakar, who had only been employed for three days. Preliminary investigations revealed that Abubakar took the vehicle to Nasarawa State, where he handed it over to two other gang members, who have since been arrested and are facing trial for another offence in Nasarawa State.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the security guard, who had been employed for barely three days, stole the said vehicle on October 7, 2024, and took the same to Nasarawa State where he gave the vehicle to two other gang members who were arrested and currently facing trial for another offence in Nasarawa State. While the vehicle has been recovered, efforts are in place to arrest the suspect, Usman Abubakar, who is still on the run,” Disu stated.

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