News
Sen. Katung, Bags Another Prestigious Award At UN General Assembly
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Senator representing Kaduna South at Nigeria’s National Assembly, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, has added another cap to his feather as he bagged another prestigious African and Caribbean award at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) in New York, United States of America.
According to the organizers, the award was in recognition of Senator Katung’s outstanding legislative performance in Nigeria’s National Assembly.
The Senator also received recognition and commendation from the South Carolina State Legislature following a motion by Representative Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, acknowledging his sterling legislative contribution to the growth and development of Nigeria.
Presenting the award to Senator Katung during the International Forum of African-Caribbean Leadership (IFACL), which is part of activities at the ongoing UN General Assembly, the founder/Executive Chairman of the African Leadership Magazine, Dr Ken Giami, said the choice of Senator Katung for the African Leadership Legislative Excellence Awards Senator was in recognition of his “outstanding posturing as one of the continent’s outstanding public servants and parliamentarian with exceptional professional expertise and leadership savvy.”
The organizers highlighted and listed Senator Katung’s honesty, transparency, dedication, and unalloyed commitment to excellence, youth development, and empowerment as the basis for these honors.
According to the organizers, the award also recognizes Senator Katung’s diverse accomplishments and exceptional stewardship to the people of Kaduna South Senatorial District, as well as his numerous achievements and efforts to address security challenges, improve healthcare delivery, and promote education within his region.
Delivering his speech at the International Forum of African-Caribbean Leadership (IFACL), which is part of activities at the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York., Senator Katung called for concerted efforts to address climate change challenges in Africa and the Caribbeans.
He said that Africa and the Caribbean must face common challenges such as climate change, poverty, inequality, and social injustice.
According to him, “These necessitate a collective call to action beyond the rhetoric of oratory. Many African and Caribbean countries are currently at risk of not meeting the SDGs by 2030 thus the imperative and urgency to rally around Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.
“To effectively tackle multidimensional poverty, environmental degradation, sustainable development as well as resilient societies, we must adopt a multi-stakeholder approach that engages all sectors of society,” Katung said while calling for a paradigm shift with the parliament effectively playing its legislative functions, from traditional representative democracy to a more inclusive, participatory, accountable and responsive democracy.
“The current system has fallen short and we must acknowledge this reality,” Katung said, adding that the demand for participatory democracy is growing and that African and Caribbean countries will eventually need to embrace the shift to build resilient societies that truly represent the voices and needs of their citizens.
“In this regard, the role of the parliament cannot be overemphasized. Parliament has the mandate to enact laws that support multi-stakeholder partnerships, provide appropriation resources and funding for partnership initiatives, and hold the executive accountable for their commitments and actions towards such partnerships.
“Thankfully, despite threats of rising authoritarianism and closing civic spaces globally, many countries have embraced the Open Government Partnership (OGP).
“This is a global reform initiative that is being co-created and championed by reformers in governments and civil society to foster a culture of public transparency, accountability, and responsiveness and is key to galvanizing multi-stakeholder partnerships that can help accelerate the move from transactional changes to achieve transformational progress.
“The importance of supporting regional integration and cooperation in Africa and the Caribbean cannot be overstated. Leaders, including parliamentarian, must acknowledge that resilient societies are built through collaborative efforts across all sectors, driving economic growth, social progress, environmental protection, and inclusive development,” Katung said.
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State was also presented with the award of Best Performing Governor Award by Founder/Executive Chairman of the African Leadership Magazine, Dr. Ken Giami, as well as bestowed honorary citizenship of the State of Georgia on Diri and legislative recognition of the South Carolina State Legislature.
The event attracted several political, business, and industry leaders, including the President and Chairman of the United States Export-Import Bank, Reta Jo Lewis, Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Dr. Kevin Greenidge, and President/Chief Executive Officer of Hightower Petroleum, Stephen Hightower.
Also in attendance were Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, Dee Dawkins-Haigler, former chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Harry Kalaba, former Zambia Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman, Citizens First Party of Zambia as well as Ms Nomvule Mokonyane, Deputy Secretary General of the African National Congress in South Africa and other leaders from Angola, Ghana, Uganda and South Africa.
In light of disappointing local election outcomes, members of the UK Conservative Party will gather this week to deliberate on the possible removal of their leader, Kemi Badenoch. The urgency stems from a growing concern about the party’s future following significant gains by Reform.
Two senior Conservative backbenchers have confirmed to The Independent that they are initiating discussions with fellow MPs regarding a leadership change. “We cannot continue as we are; she (Ms. Badenoch) is simply not equipped for the task,” stated one MP.
This move follows a disheartening election where the Conservatives lost 15 councils and 674 seats, raising alarms about the party’s viability. Concurrently, Nigel Farage announced that his party has eclipsed the Conservatives to become the primary opposition to Labour, securing 676 seats and overall control of 10 councils.
One Conservative MP remarked, “These results are actually worse than those from last year’s general election. We have somehow regressed.”
Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives faced a significant defeat last Thursday, resulting in the loss of hundreds of councillors and control of 15 councils.
Reports indicate that several Tories have approached Robert Jenrick to consider another leadership bid just six months after his previous attempt failed. While some plotting against Ms. Badenoch are her critics, sources claim that discussions regarding her future involve members beyond the usual factions.
Former Foreign Secretary Sir James Cleverly is also reportedly positioning himself as a centrist alternative to the right-leaning Jenrick, as noted in the report. Over the weekend, Sir James expressed to GB News that while he supports Badenoch, he remains open about a potential leadership bid should the opportunity arise.
Critics within the parliamentary party have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of a clear strategy to counter Reform. An initiative to garner her backing for an anti-Reform task force—drawing on former allies of Farage from Ukip and the Brexit Party—was reportedly ignored, despite backing from prominent Brexiteer Sir Bill Cash.
One senior backbencher commented, “I feel as if I’ve been banging my head against a brick wall trying to determine the strategy for confronting Farage and Reform. There has been nothing.”
Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, notably shared on X that all Tory council candidates in his Newark constituency had won, amid a backdrop of hundreds of Tory losses across the country. He dedicated his weekend to fundraising efforts in various regions.
However, one MP voiced concerns: “If we allow Kemi another year, it could spell disaster for us. There are no policies, no ideas, no strategy, and she lacks charisma.”
MPs are assessing that previously secure seats in regions like East Anglia, Essex, Kent, and southern England could be at risk based on last week’s results. There are also grievances regarding her selection of senior staff, particularly former MPs like Rachel MacLean and Therese Coffey. “They just don’t seem to grasp the severity of our situation,” another MP remarked.
Nonetheless, Tory MPs are also wary of new regulations requiring a third of them (currently 41 MPs) to trigger a vote of confidence through letters to the 1922 Committee chair, Bob Blackman. While MPs have yet to publicly advocate for Badenoch’s removal, some Conservatives have.
Jason Smithers, the former Tory leader of North Northamptonshire Council, publicly called for Badenoch’s resignation following the election results, stating, “I cannot comprehend how a party leader can remain in position after such dismal results nationwide.”
Phillip Blond, director of the ResPublica think tank and former advisor to David Cameron, has echoed calls for Badenoch to step down. However, she remains resolute in her position. In an interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Badenoch argued against the notion that leadership changes can swiftly rectify issues, asserting that the party’s current challenges will not be resolved in six months. She emphasized, “This isn’t merely about winning elections; it’s about remedying our country.”
Despite her statements, Badenoch’s interview seems to have heightened concerns among MPs. One senior MP noted, “She speaks as if we have ample time to turn things around. We do not. It may already be too late. She has left a significant gap for Nigel Farage to occupy.”
Members of the shadow cabinet are attempting to alleviate tensions, advising Tory MPs against moves to unseat Badenoch, emphasizing that she “needs time.”
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)