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Macarthur Foundation Africa Director Visits PRIMORG

Published

2 years ago

May 4, 2023

…. gives thumbs up for good utilization of grants

African Director of Macarthur Foundation, Dr. Kole Shettima, has applauded the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development, PRIMORG, for putting grants from the Foundation into good use over the years.

Shettima made the remarks on Wednesday during an official visit to PRIMORG’s newly completed office building in Pyakassa, Lugbe, FCT, Abuja.

He expressed excitement that PRIMORG has been able to build its own office space, noting that the development means the 29 percent overhead cost from the Foundation’s grant has been well utilized. He added that owning an office building is “one of the most important things every organization needs, and not worrying about annual rent, which usually for many people becomes a big problem.

“Having your own space is a very good idea, and I am happy that you (PRIMORG) have been able to use the resources that you have to have your own space as well.

“I wanted to say thank you very much for the opportunity to leave what I was doing to come to this place.

“From my perspective, 29 percent of the overhead cost is to sustain the organization, to institutionalize the organization, and to make sure that the organization continues to thrive, giving all the challenges of fundraising and others. We are hoping that this is going to galvanize every one of you to continue to do the work you are doing.

“We are very happy and very excited about the work you are doing and the fact that you are in your own space,’ Shettima stated.

Reacting to the visit, PRIMORG’s Executive Director, Okhiria Agbonsuremi, profusely thanked MacArthur Foundation for their unalloyed support to the organization for about five years and counting.

Agbonsuremi said that PRIMORG’s new office building was made possible by support from the Chicago-based Foundation while expressing the readiness of PRIMORG to continue to partner with the Foundation in the execution of more projects.

He praised Dr. Shettima and his colleagues at the MacArthur Foundation Africa Office for their support and assistance in ensuring PRIMORG met its objectives and deliverables.

“I am so happy that you (Shettima) found time to come because your schedule is very tight. It is the MacArthur Foundation funds that we have used. We are very excited and happy that within a short time, we were to get our own office complex

“We have internal joy that we have been able to apply the funds sustainably to promote our sustainability,

“It will help us work harder and move forward, and we will not be able to discount the support of the MacArthur Foundation and the Nigerian team in particular because we have had a lot of support from you.

“We are very excited that you are giving us all this support,” Agbonsuremi stated.

Agbonsuremi also praised the Chairman, PRIMORG’s Board of Directors, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, and other board members. He commended Mr. Ayo Ogundele, one of the board members, for assisting the organization in facilitating the acquisition of the new office building.

PRIMORG’s new office is at Plot C017 and C018 Phase 2 Kanma Homes, off Pyakassa Road, Lugbe Abuja – Nigeria.

The organization was established in 2017 to, among other mandates, promote good governance, accountability, participation and the strengthening of the media through community and media engagements, training and collaboration.

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NYCN: High Court Bars Gbenga, others from holding election

Published

3 hours ago

October 7, 2025

The Gleamer

Josl Ajayi

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has issued an order restraining Comrade Ademola Gbenga, Comrade Okechukwu Nnamene and others from conducting the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) election slated for October 7, pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.

Justice J. E. Obanor, in an order dated October 6, 2025, in suit no: FCT/HC/CV/3803/2025 and motion no: M/12204/2025, sighted by our correspondent, directed the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to enforce the court’s order.

The claimants/applicants in the case are the Incorporated Trustees of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, representing the existing leadership of the Council.

The defendants include Comr. Ademola Gbenga, Comr. Okechukwu Nnamene, Comr. Abel Abaji, Comr. Alex Allen Akin, Comr. Hassan Mamman, the Inspector General of Police, and the Department of State Services.

It would be recalled that the NYCN, during its National Elective Convention held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, from September 20 to 22, re-elected Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo as President alongside other executives.

However, dissatisfied with the Sukubo-led leadership, Gbenga and his allies formed a parallel group and planned to conduct another election in Abuja on October 7.

Consequently, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo regarding the leadership of the NYCN, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The Order read in part, “Upon hearing the Motion Ex parte and the accompanying affidavit of. Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo listening to P. Ulofu ESQ., of counsel to the Applicants praying this Honourable Court for the following:-

“An Order of Interim Injunction restraining the Respondents (Gbenga and others) or any person(s) acting through them or on their behalf from conducting the scheduled election of the 7th day of October, 2025 or taking any further step concerning the subject matter of this suit respectively pending the hearing and determination of the motion on Notice.

“An Order of Interim Injunction directing the Respondents to maintain the status quo with respect to the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, pending the determination of and determination of the motion on notice.

“An Order directing the 6th (IGP) and 7th (DSS) Defendants/Respondents to enforce the Order of Court restraining the 1st to 5th (Gbenga and others) Defendants, their privies, agents, or howsoever called, conducting the scheduled election of the 7 th day of October, 2025 or taking any further step concerning the subject matter of this suit respectively pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“And for such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this suit and or application.

“The court ordered as follows: Application is hereby granted and order made as prayed. Case is adjourned to 16th October, 2025 for hearing of Motion on Notice.”

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