Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who also chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, has been elected President of the Forum of African Regions. The election took place in Tangier, Morocco, during the UCLG World Congress. AbdulRazaq will lead a new team that includes four regional vice presidents: Mr. Ousmanou Oumarou for Central Africa, Ms. Mbarka Bouaida for North Africa, Mr. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o for East Africa, and Mr. Panyaza Lesufi for Southern Africa. The Forum's mandate is to accelerate socioeconomic development, deepen decentralization, and position subnational governments as key drivers of continental integration. Governor AbdulRazaq emphasized the importance of collaboration among African nations and subnational governments to achieve sustainable growth, highlighting infrastructure and connectivity as crucial for overcoming developmental challenges. He called for a shared vision of integration and development, stressing that collective action and cooperation can create sustainable linkages for trade, innovation, environmental stewardship, and inclusive growth across the continent.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadThe Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, expressed disappointment regarding the Super Eagles' failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Speaking at the inauguration of the Kuje-Gwagwalada Road in Abuja, Wike urged former team captain Joseph Yobo, who was present, to convey Nigerians' frustration to the players. Wike noted that many Nigerians are unhappy the country missed the expanded 48-team World Cup, especially as nations with less football pedigree qualified. He highlighted the pain of watching the World Cup without Nigeria's participation, despite numerous Nigerian players competing in top leagues globally. Wike emphasized that Nigeria's absence was particularly disheartening given the tournament's expansion and the Super Eagles' elimination in the qualifying playoffs after losing to Congo on penalties.
Must ReadThe Federal Government of Nigeria has launched the National Poverty Intelligence Lab, a data-driven platform aimed at improving the targeting, monitoring, and evaluation of poverty-reduction programs. This initiative seeks to address the estimated 140 million Nigerians living below the poverty line. Dr. Bernard Doro, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, unveiled the lab, stating it will serve as a central hub for intelligence and evidence-gathering for the government's anti-poverty interventions. He emphasized that Nigeria's poverty challenge requires a new approach based on data, evidence, and accountability, moving away from assumptions and fragmented interventions. The lab is described as the "intelligence backbone" of Nigeria’s poverty reduction architecture, providing analytical support for policy formulation, program implementation, resource allocation, and performance assessment. It will support the One Humanitarian One Poverty Response System OHOPRS to harmonize assistance and ensure interventions permanently lift vulnerable households out of poverty. The establishment of the lab is seen as a governance and accountability reform to improve transparency and effectiveness. Mrs. Fumi Ayeni, Country Representative of Innovations for Poverty Action, a partner in the initiative, highlighted that the collaboration will help policymakers understand the needs of vulnerable populations and reduce duplication in programs. Dr. Abimbola Fasanu, Senior Techni

President Bola Tinubu has requested the Senate to confirm Professor Abayomi Fashina, the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, as a non-career ambassador/high commissioner-designate. The request was outlined in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a Wednesday plenary session. President Tinubu stated the nomination aligns with constitutional provisions for diplomatic appointments and urged prompt consideration. The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs has been tasked with screening Professor Fashina and is expected to submit its report within one week. This nomination is part of the Tinubu administration's efforts to strengthen Nigeria's diplomatic corps. Ambassadorial nominees in Nigeria must undergo Senate screening and confirmation before assuming their roles. Non-career ambassadors are typically chosen from various sectors, including academia, for their distinguished service. If confirmed, Professor Fashina will contribute to Nigeria's foreign policy objectives and international relations.