By Gloria Ikibah

As part of its contribution in strengthening governance in Africa, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has marked the successful completion of the fourth edition of its AIG Public Leaders Programme, an executive training initiative for government officials.

The programme, which was in collaboration with the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, is aimed at equipping public servants with the skills to drive effective governance.

At the graduation ceremony held in Abuja, participants from Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda were celebrated for completing the rigorous training, aimed at enhancing public service performance across the continent.

Former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), in his keynote address, described the graduates’ mandate in bold terms.

Osinbajo urged participants to leverage their training to dismantle systemic barriers and reimagine equitable service delivery

He said: “You are Public Service Scientists. Just as technologists invent groundbreaking tools, you must create systems that ensure health, safety, education, and opportunity reach every citizen—not as a privilege, but as a promise”.

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, commended the Foundation’s role in reshaping governance.

“The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has shown commitment to building a public sector that prioritises citizens. This programme equips leaders with world-class skills to drive innovation and align with our vision of an efficient, ethical, and citizen-centric workforce”, she said.

As part of the programme, participants developed and began implementing reform projects to tackle systemic challenges within their Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), driving improvements in public service delivery.

Chairman of the Foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, stressed the urgency of transforming Africa.

“Our challenge is not merely about accelerating processes; it is about catching up. Catching up demands more than intelligence—it requires a transformative mindset and a willingness to break new ground. This programme equips public servants to tackle systemic bottlenecks while promoting collective action—the power of us—to drive impactful change across the continent”, he asserted.

Dignitaries in attendance included the President of the Senate, represented by Senator Gershom Bassey; representatives of the Governors of Delta and Kano States; representatives of the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); Secretary to the Government of the Federation; and Heads of Service of Ekiti and Nasarawa States.

Graduating participants will join a growing network of alumni who have been trained since 2021.

The Foundation reiterared its committment  to its mission of training 3,000 public sector leaders by 2030, equipping them with the skills needed to drive impactful reforms. Applications are now open for the fifth cohort of the programme.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Lagos State Government will seal and divert traffic for the emergency repairs of the Independence/Mekwen Bridge (inbound Marina/CMS route) for two months.

Disclosing this in a statement on Sunday, the State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the emergency repair of the bridge is scheduled from Wednesday, March 19 19, to Monday, May 26, 2025.

He said during the repairs, the section of the road from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) through Bonny Camp Bridge down to Independence Bridge will be closed to vehicular movement.

“Similarly, the Bonny Camp Underpass Bridge service lane inbound Independence Bridge will not be available for motorists. However, the service lane from Ahmadu Bello Way to Ozumba Mbadiwe will be open to traffic,” the statement read.

Motorists heading to Victoria Island from Ahmadu Bello Way are advised to use Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street, and proceed to Falomo Roundabout, then link Obafemi Awolowo Road to access Ring Road to continue their journeys.

Motorists from Ahmadu Bello Way heading to 3rd Mainland Bridge should go through Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street, then link Alfred Rewane Road to Osborne Road, and connect to Ring Road to reach their destinations.

“Motorists heading to Inner Marina and CMS from Ahmadu Bello Way will be diverted to Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street to connect Falomo Roundabout, then link Obafemi Awolowo Road to access J.K. Randle Road/King George V Road to reach their desired destinations.”

According to the commissioner, motorists heading to Ahmadu Bello Way from Inner Marina/CMS will have through-traffic access.

Osiyemi reassured Lagosians that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will manage traffic flow along the aforementioned routes for the duration of the project

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Amnesty International on Sunday said the Nigerian authorities must stop threatening individuals and groups who criticise the current administration.

The Nigerian authorities must stop responding with violence and threats to individuals and groups who express dissenting opinions — in utter disregard for Nigerian constitution and international law. Holding and voicing dissenting views is not a crime,” the organisation in a statement on its X handle.

It also condemned the alleged threats and intimidation being faced by Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps member, Ushie Uguamaye.

This followed her viral TikTok video where she criticised President Bola Tinubu’s government over hardship Nigerians face as a result of the economic reforms

The human rights watchdog denounced the reported threats from NYSC officials, emphasizing that Uguamaye was well within her rights to express her frustration over the country’s worsening economic conditions.

“Amnesty International strongly condemns threats and intimidation directed at a lady who posted TikTok video lamenting the current escalating economic hardship. The lady alleged that NYSC officials @officialnyscng threatened her for refusing to delete the video,” the statement read.

“It is perfectly within her right to express discontent peacefully. Instead of threatening her for her opinions on rampant inflation, the authorities should prioritise addressing the country’s economic woes.

“Millions of people in Nigeria are facing extreme poverty. So far, the authorities have failed to put in place effective mitigation measures, leaving millions of people without the hope of getting out of the economic challenges and enjoying their human rights.”

Uguamaye alleged that shortly after the video went viral, she began receiving threats, purportedly from NYSC officials, pressuring her to delete the content.

She expressed fears for her safety, stating that her personal details had been leaked and that she was being pressured to report to the NYSC office.