STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE

*PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS PROFESSOR JEGA AS SPECIAL ADVISER*

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), as adviser and coordinator of the Presidential Livestock Reform.

President Tinubu announced the appointment Friday, hoping to drive meaningful progress in the livestock sector and further strengthen national development efforts.

Jega, former vice chancellor of Bayero University, co-chaired the Presidential Livestock Committee with President Tinubu.

The committee delivered comprehensive recommendations that underscored sustainable livestock reforms. One recommendation was the creation of the Livestock Ministry, which now has a minister.

Jega, 68, is a member of the International Elections Advisory Council and the pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education in Kano State.

He served as the chairman of INEC between 2010 and 2015.

His appointment as special adviser to President Tinubu will reinforce the gains of the presidential committee and ensure the continued momentum of the reforms already in motion.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information and Strategy)

March 7, 2025

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.

France is a loyal and steadfast ally in NATO, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasised on Thursday, amid his US counterpart Donald Trump’s repeated doubts about the military alliance.

The French leader invoked a list of historical events whereby France and the US have “always been there for each other,” including namechecking Marquis de Lafayette — a 19th-century French nobleman — who was a major-general in the American army fighting the British during the Revolutionary War.

France had shown “respect and friendship” toward the US, Macron said. “I think we’re entitled to expect the same,” he added.

On Thursday, Trump again cast doubt on whether Washington would defend its NATO allies if they did not pay what he believes was enough for their own defence.

Under Article 5, members of the NATO alliance must help if another member comes under attack.

“It’s common sense, right,” Trump told reporters on Thursday. “If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them. No, I’m not going to defend them.”

Trump added he had held this view since his first term, when similar comments prompted European members to increase their defence spending to meet the 2% target.

The US president said these efforts were “not enough. They should be paying more.”

Trump also expressed uncertainty about whether NATO members would defend the US if the country were under attack, singling out France as an example of an ally he “wasn’t sure” about.

NATO allies, including France, did however come to the US’ defence after the 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon, when Article 5 was invoked and led to NATO’s largest-ever military operation in Afghanistan.

‘Ironclad’ or not?

Trump’s comments follow those from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth last month, who said in a speech that Washington would not participate in a potential peacekeeping force in Ukraine, and would not come to the defence of any NATO country that did if attacked by Russia.

Despite Trump’s comments, his pick for NATO ambassador, Matt Whitaker, said during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that the US commitment to the NATO alliance and Article 5 would be “ironclad.”

NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte also sought to reaffirm the strength of the alliance earlier on Thursday, telling reporters in Brussels: “Let me be clear, the transatlantic relationship and the transatlantic partnership remains the bedrock of our alliance. “

“President Trump has made clear the commitment of the US and his commitment personally to NATO, and it has also made clear the expectation that we in Europe must do more in terms of defence spending,” Rutte added.

Trump has repeatedly cast doubt since his 2016 presidential campaign that the US under his leadership might not comply with the alliance’s mutual defence guarantees if members of the alliance did not increase their defence spending.

On Thursday, Trump said NATO was “potentially good” if what he saw as a spending issue could be fixed. “They’re screwing us on trade,” he concluded.

Last year, the now-former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said a record 23 of NATO’s 32 member nations had hit their spending targets.

Trump has taken credit for countries meeting those because of his threats, with Stoltenberg himself saying the returning US president was responsible for getting other nations to increase their spending.