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Igbinedion University Okada Confers Honorary Ambassador Award On RMAFC Chairman
Chairman Revenue Mobilization Allocation And Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu OFR has been conferred with the award of Honorary Ambassador of Igbinedion University Okada (IUO) by the management of the Premier Private University.
The Vice Chancellor of IUO, Prof. Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye, disclosed this when he led a delegation from the university to present the award to the Chairman, Dr. M.B Shehu OFR, in his office in Abuja on Tuesday 21st January, 2025.
In his speech, Professor Ezenmonye told the Chairman that in line with its development trajectory, the university deemed it fit to establish the position of Honorary Ambassador of IUO to recognize personalities who have demonstrated commitment to educational excellence and distinguished themselves in service to the nation.
The Vice Chancellor said, “The Premier Private University, in its due delligence search, has considered you as most worthy of this honour of being its Honorary Ambassador. This is predicated on your profile as a consummate technocrat and more importantly, as a distinguished alumnus of our great university.”
“As Honorary Ambassador of IUO, you will be expected, amongst other things, to promote and project the image and standing of the University while advancing its interest,” he further said.
In his reaction, Dr. M. B Shehu extolled the ideals of the University’s founding fathers and expressed his appreciation to the management and staff of the institution for finding him worthy of the recognition accorded him in advancing the course of the university.
He said, “The most important thing that we can do for the society is to impact knowledge. If we had sustained what our forefathers started many years ago, probably all the issues that are being discussed in Nigeria today wouldn’t have come up.
“We have great minds, great talents and great institutions, but somehow, along the line, we allowed the university system to derail.”
He expressed gratitude to God that some higher institutions like the IUO were able to maintain a high standard of education despite the challenges confronting higher institutions of learning in the country.
The Chairman praised the foresight of the founding fathers of the university. ” It is really remarkable to have started this institution 25 years ago and considering the positive transformation that has been recorded so far, I think the management of the university should be commended .” He said.
Dr. Bello then pledged his readiness to advance the course of the institution. “I assure you that I would do whatever I can to assist in whatever capacity, to market, to propagate, to help and to project the image of the University wherever I am.” He promised.
The Registrar/ Secretary of Council of the University, Professor Friday Beni Bakari and other members of the delegation as well as officials of RMAFC in their address described the Chairman as a humble, amiable and detribalised person.
The high point of the occasion was the presentation of the letter of appointment as the Honorary Ambassador of the university to the recipient, Dr. Muhammed Bello Shehu OFR.
Other members of the delegation from the university were Prof. Deborah Omotsefe Odejimi, Dean School of Post Graduate Studies and Prof. Femi Olufunmilade.
News
Ogunlesi backs Tinubu reforms as FIRS chairman Adedeji highlights export-led economy
Joel Ajayi
After a high-level meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, Nigerian-born global investor Adebayo Ogunlesi expressed renewed confidence in the country’s economic reforms, indicating potential mega investments across energy, aviation, and port sectors.
He was joined in that optimism by Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), who stressed that the reforms were laying the groundwork for an export-driven economy.
Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, Ogunlesi praised the sweeping policy changes under Tinubu’s administration, including the removal of subsidies, tax reforms, and the revival of a refinery already exporting aviation fuel.
“We had an excellent meeting where we discussed how to put Nigeria front and center for international investment. The President was very encouraging, and we shared useful suggestions on driving economic growth,” Ogunlesi said.
Although he declined to reveal specific details, Ogunlesi confirmed that his firm is actively investing in Nigeria and assessing new opportunities.
“Watch this space. Nigeria is not yet the most exciting investment destination, but that’s what we are working on,” he teased.
Pressed on the sectors of interest, Ogunlesi highlighted energy, gas, aviation, ports, and renewables. Drawing on his firm’s experience with LNG projects in Texas and Australia, he noted Nigeria’s massive untapped gas reserves.
On aviation, he acknowledged his reputation as “the guy who bought Gatwick Airport” and signaled interest in similar ventures locally.
He also admitted that one of his companies operates ports in Cotonou and Lomé but none in Nigeria, a point Tinubu reportedly challenged him on.
“He forgave me but said, ‘you have to bring port investment to Nigeria,’” Ogunlesi recounted with a smile.
International investor Hakeem Bello-Osagie, who was also present, underscored the importance of diaspora participation in Nigeria’s growth story.
“When Nigerians at home and abroad invest in Nigeria, it sends a strong signal to the world,” he said, lauding Tinubu’s policies for making the country “investable.”
Echoing the sentiment, FIRS chairman Adedeji described the reforms as the foundation for an export-led economy.
“We’ve done the fundamentals, and now it is time to deliver growth,” he said.
With global players signaling confidence, the momentum for Nigeria’s economic repositioning is gaining ground, setting the stage for transformative investments in key industries.
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