News
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.
Foreign news
Algeria’s Glorious Revolution: Embassy Marks 72nd Anniversary in Abuja
Joel Ajayi
The Embassy of Algeria in Nigeria has commemorated the 72nd anniversary of the country’s Glorious Revolution of November 1, 1954, with a reception in Abuja, highlighting Algeria’s liberation struggle and strengthening diplomatic relations with Nigeria.
The event, held on November 9, 2026, at Continental Suites Hotel, attracted prominent personalities, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, members of the Federal Government, senior government officials, heads of diplomatic missions and other friends of Algeria.
Speaking at the reception, Algeria’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hocine Mezoued, welcomed guests and paid tribute to the country’s freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the struggle for independence.
He described the November 1, 1954 revolution as the foundation of modern Algeria, noting that the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs made it possible for the country to reclaim its sovereignty.
On Algeria’s development agenda, Mezoued said President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s administration had continued to pursue economic reforms, diversification and national development under its New Algeria vision.
He noted that the country was recording progress in non-hydrocarbon exports, while improvements in the business environment had boosted investor confidence and attracted significant foreign investments.
On foreign policy, the ambassador reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to non-interference, respect for national sovereignty, peaceful conflict resolution and the right of peoples to self-determination.
Addressing security challenges in the Sahel, he stressed that lasting peace could not be achieved through military measures alone, insisting that economic development, inclusive dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes remained essential.
Turning to Nigeria-Algeria relations, Mezoued described the partnership as one founded on shared values and the commitment of both countries’ leaders to advancing African development.
He identified the Trans-Saharan Highway, Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and Trans-Saharan Fibre Optic Backbone as major strategic projects receiving attention from both countries.
The ambassador also disclosed that Algeria had continued to provide scholarships to Nigerian students to strengthen human capital development and capacity building.
He further announced that Air Algérie expanded its Nigerian operations on October 26, 2026, with the introduction of two weekly flights to Lagos, expressing confidence that the service would boost trade and tourism.
Looking ahead, Mezoued said 2027 would offer fresh opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly through the fifth Joint High Bi-National Commission scheduled to hold in Abuja.
He expressed optimism that the meeting would provide an opportunity to assess existing partnerships, identify new areas of cooperation and move Nigeria-Algeria relations towards a more practical and results-driven phase.
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