Business
Yar’Adua In High Spirit – Gov Shema
There are strong indications that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua may likely return home this week following confirmation that he is recuperating fast after going through surgery in a Saudi hospital last week.
The indication was given by the Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema who returned from Saudi Arabia yesterday after a visit to the ailing president.
Governor Shema said, “I must begin by giving gratitude to Almighty God because the president is recuperating very very well. And he is going to be home soon.”
Asked when he may likely return following his response to treatment, the Katsina State Governor remarked, “immediately his doctors give him the go ahead he would return immediately.”
The Governor stated that President Yar’Adua is appreciative of the numerous prayers offered by both Christians and Muslim faithfuls for his health, “he is very much aware of this gesture and is appreciative that Nigerians are united in prayers for him.”
He advised Nigerians to remain calm, stressing that as human beings health is a gift from God and is not a monopoly of any human being.
Meanwhile, prayers of healing became the highlight of the annual thanksgiving service at the Aso Villa chapel yesterday in Abuja.
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan offered special prayers seeking God to intervene and heal the president as he gets medical attention in Saudi Arabia.
In the sermon by former Information Minister, Prof Jerry Gana, he harped on “There is Power of Faith in God and God is Able to change situations.”
The chapel’s annual thanksgiving prayer was also devoted to cheers to their chaplain Venerable Obiomah Onwuzorobah at 60 years.
“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.
The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.
Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.
According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.
The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.
“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.
“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.
He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.
“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”
According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.
Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.