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Bishop Stephen Adegbite Assumes Office As New Executive Secretary Of NCPC
With his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, Bishop Stephen Adegbite has assumed office as the 4th substantive Executive Secretary of the Commission.
His resumption followed his appointment by President Bola TInubu, which was formally announced on the 10th of January, 2024 by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale alongside eight other new Board Members of the Commission.
His appointment which took effect from 4th January, 2024, is for a term of five years in the first instance according to the provisions in the NCPC enabling Act of 20007.
The new NCPC helmsman reported at the NCPC Corporate Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, 31st January, 2024 with two newly appointed board members of the Commission representing North Central and South South geo political zones, respectively, members of the Clergy amongst others.
Fielding questions from the press, the new NCPC boss who described his coming to NCPC as “Divine, a new dawn and a Renewed Hope for NCPC”, stated that there would be satisfaction for everyone.
He disclosed that he would use his appointment to drive positively the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola TInubu’s administration.
He affirmed that he has the cognate experience to lift NCPC to greater heights, having been in the Pilgrimage circle for more than two decades.
According to him, “My wealth of experience will be brought to bear in NCPC”.
Bishop Adegbite emphasized that Israel remains the ultimate Pilgrimage destination for all Nigerian Christians and as such he urged every Christian to continue to pray fervently for peace in Jerusalem.
“We are going to reopen Jerusalem gate very soon”. He assured
He admitted that about half of the members of staff of NCPC are well known to him and as such he is certainly coming into a familiar terrain.
In a press release signed and made available to Journalists by Celestine Toruka, Deputy Director and Head Media and Public Relations, the New NCPC Boss assured that the NCPC staffs could now heave a sigh of relief now that the Lord has made it possible for him to superintend over the affairs of the Commission, assuring that he would ensure that the staff gets what they deserve.
The NCPC Chief Executive further maintained that he has every cause to add value to NCPC and would carry everyone along to the glory of God.
He posited that, “If I don’t follow the way of Christ, I will be a failure”,
The new NCPC boss promised to serve the new board with dignity as the Executive Secretary and be a servant leader to all.
According to him, “By his grace I will continue to work together with the Board and the staffs because God created us together”.
He further said, “We are in this assignment of our Lord Jesus Christ together, therefore my appointment is to the glory of God “.
Prior to his appointment, Bishop Dr Stephen Adegbite was the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN Lagos State Chapter, he also doubles as the Metropolitan Bishop of the Methodist church, Ikeja, Lagos State, he was also a former Director of Planning and Strategy to the immediate past CAN President, His Eminence, Dr Supo Ayokunle for six years as well as a former member of the last NCPC board where he represented CAN.
Bishop Stephen Adegbite is a doctorate degree holder.
The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Reform Committee to review existing policy documents and propose comprehensive reforms to ensure the scheme remains effective and responsive to current national needs.
Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday during the inauguration of the committee.
He noted that the NYSC had long been a pillar of national integration, promoting unity across Nigeria’s diverse cultures while providing young Nigerians with valuable life experiences.
“Today signifies an important step forward in our collective journey to improve one of Nigeria’s most valuable national institutions dedicated to unity, empowerment, and development,” Olawande said.
He emphasised the vital role the NYSC had played in fostering national unity and youth development since its inception in 1973, but stressed that it was now time to reassess and modernise the scheme to reflect contemporary realities and challenges.
“As the nation advances, we must improve the institutions that support its development.
“While the NYSC has made remarkable progress, it also faces significant challenges, particularly concerning the safety of corps members, infrastructural deficits, and questions about the scheme’s relevance in a changing socio-economic landscape,” he said.
Olawande explained that the committee’s mandate includes conducting a comprehensive review of the scheme, assessing its current operations, and proposing reforms to make it more secure, innovative, and impactful.
“Our goal is to transform NYSC into a platform that offers youth better opportunities in skill acquisition, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and career development,” he added.
“The committee will also review existing policy documents, laws, and reports guiding the NYSC; engage in consultations with stakeholders nationwide; and recommend legal, policy, and institutional reforms, including improved funding and monitoring frameworks.
“A comprehensive report is expected to be submitted to the Minister of Youth,” he said.
In her remarks, Hajiya Hadiza Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, stressed the need to restructure technical and vocational training in alignment with academic development.
She said such reforms would enable young people to make long-term contributions to their communities and the country.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, proposed the creation of a Teachers’ Corps and Medical Corps for NCE-certified graduates and healthcare professionals, especially those willing to serve in rural areas for a voluntary two-year period.
He said the Teachers’ Corps would help address educational gaps and offer a path to government employment, while the Medical Corps would strengthen healthcare delivery in underserved communities, particularly in maternal and child health.(NAN)
Nigerian government has called for decisive and unified action to unlock the country’s vast natural gas reserves.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, disclosed this while delivering a keynote address at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference hosted by Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) on Tuesday in Houston, Texas, U.S.
Ekpo reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria into a globally competitive, gas-powered economy.
The theme of the session is: “Harnessing Nigeria’s Gas Potential for Domestic Utilisation and Global Export Market”.
“Nigeria holds over 210 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves; Africa’s largest and among the top ten globally.
“This resource is a divine gift, but it comes with a responsibility—to use it for sustainable development, job creation, industrialisation, and global energy security,”Ekpo said.
He said that “potential alone does not generate growth, action does.
The minister commended PETAN for showcasing Nigeria’s innovation on the world stage and emphasised that the country’s Decade of Gas initiative, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, is central to national energy transformation.
According to him, government is investing heavily in gas infrastructurepipelines, processing plants, and distribution systems, to make gas widely accessible for electricity, manufacturing, transport, and home use.
He said that barriers to industrial gas use were also being dismantled, with incentives created for sectors such as fertiliser production and modular gas hubs.
He also spotlighted innovative solutions like Floating LNG (FLNG), and new regional agreements such as the Nigeria–Equatorial Guinea Gas Pipeline, which aim to commercialise stranded gas and boost exports.
Ekpo stressed that innovation and technology, including digital oilfield solutions, low-carbon gas processing, and emissions monitoring, will be key drivers in this transformation.
He called for greater investment in R&D and closer collaboration between academia, startups, and the private sector.
Addressing the financing challenge, the minister noted that Nigeria must make its gas projects bankable and ESG-compliant to attract global investment amid shifting energy transition priorities.
He commended the efforts of Nigeria’s regulatory agencies, the NMDPRA and NUPRC, for fostering investor confidence through transparency and efficiency.
Ekpo emphasised the need for indigenous companies to take the lead in this new energy era.
“The future of gas in Nigeria is not just for multinational corporations, it belongs to every capable Nigerian entrepreneur ready to act.”
“Nigeria’s gas potential is vast, but it is only through decisive, collective action that we can transform that potential into prosperity—both for our people at home and for our position on the global stage,”he added. (NAN)
A Zamfara-based group, Zamfara Concerned Citizens, has called on Governor Dauda Lawal to cease blaming his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, for the state’s challenges and focus on delivering on his 2023 campaign promises.
The group also urged Matawalle, now Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, to contest the 2027 governorship election, citing his efforts in tackling insecurity nationwide.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group’s publicity secretary, Aliyah Dan-Musa, accused Governor Lawal of failing to address critical issues such as hunger, poverty, and healthcare in Zamfara.
“Dauda has failed the mandate entrusted to him by the good people of Zamfara,” Dan-Musa said.
“Instead of fulfilling his promises, he is looking for someone to blame, and Dr Bello Matawalle is his target.”
The group claimed that Lawal’s administration has run out of ideas and is resorting to scapegoating Matawalle to deflect from its shortcomings.
They further criticised the governor for allegedly squandering state resources on international trips with family and associates, rather than tackling the state’s pressing needs.
Zamfara Concerned Citizens called on residents to reject Lawal in the 2027 governorship election, accusing him of betraying the trust of the electorate.
“The governor has not done anything to address this ugly situation,” Dan-Musa stated, pointing to ongoing economic and social challenges in the state.
The group praised Matawalle’s tenure as governor from 2019 to 2023 and his current role as Minister of State for Defence, where they claim he has made significant strides in reducing insecurity across Nigeria.
“We have seen what he has done in Nigeria by reducing insecurity, and we are happy with what he is doing,” Dan-Musa said.
They urged Matawalle to run for governor in 2027, expressing confidence that his leadership would restore stability and attract investment to Zamfara.
“Zamfara will be much better and safer where civil servants will be smiling again and no more half salary,” the statement read.