馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
President Tinubu seeks Senate confirmation for former FUOYE Vice Chancellor as ambassador
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
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.
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Nigeria's Federal Government has announced the discovery of a significant polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State, containing platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper, lithium, and rare earth elements. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, stated that this discovery, verified by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, is a major development for the country's mining industry and could enhance its position in the global critical minerals market. The announcement was made at the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit 2026 in Abuja, where Alake highlighted the government's reforms to reposition mining as a key contributor to economic growth. These reforms include attracting investment, encouraging local processing, and boosting government revenues, moving away from raw mineral exports towards value-added processing. Alake noted that the administration of President Bola Tinubu views the solid minerals sector as a strategic pillar for economic diversification. He also mentioned a significant increase in government revenues from the mining sector, rising from approximately N6 billion before the current administration to over N38 billion in 2024 and exceeding N70 billion by the end of 2025. Concurrently, Steron Mining and Company Limited unveiled an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves at its Abuja mining site during a tour for summit delegates. The company's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abu Omar, explaine
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