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Wikimedia Nigeria user group collaborates with NAWOJ, signs MoU
Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Lagos State Chapter on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wikimedia User Group Nigeria (WUGN) at Ladi Lawal Press Center, Iyalla, Alausa, Lagos.
Dr Adeola Ekine, Lagos NAWOJ chairperson said that the partnership signifies a significant milestone in the advancement of women in journalism and technology within Nigeria.
Ekine said that the collaboration was aimed at training and capacity-building opportunities for NAWOJ Lagos members, through empowerment with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their field of endeavour.
“Through this MoU, NAWOJ Lagos and WUGN will jointly organise workshops, seminars, and training sessions focused on enhancing the digital literacy and technical skills of female journalists in Lagos State.
“These initiatives aim to equip NAWOJ Lagos members with the tools and resources needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving media landscape,” Ekine said.
Speaking, Mr Olushola Olaniyan, President Wikimedia User Nigeria Group, said that International Women’s Day (IWD) usually mark significant global event dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements and advocating for gender equality.
Olaniyan said that since its inception in March 1911, IWD has catalysed collective global activism and celebration, bringing together individuals committed to advancing women’s rights and equality.
He said that the 2024 International Women’s Day celebration with the theme “Inspire Inclusion” is aimed at forging a more inclusive world for women by inspiring understanding and appreciation for their inclusion.
He said the focus was on creating a global platform for where women feel a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.
The body’s president said that the primary objective of the 2024 IWD event was to organise events for the celebration of women’s inclusion and achievements in their chosen fields.
He said that the event was also to echo the success of women who have excelled in various fields and use their experiences to encourage and inspire other women.
He said that the celebration would be conducted in a hybrid format to encouraged the participation of interested women who are not based in Lagos consisting of three main categories: Wiki Gap Symposium, Capacity Development and Writing Contest (Edit-a-thon).
Olaniyan said that the events would bring Nigerian women to join their counterparts from across the globe to proclaim the relevance of the theme for the year’s celebration.
Speaking, Mrs Aisha Cole, Assistant National Secretary, NAWOJ said that the collaboration between NAWOJ Lagos and WUGN would extend to the planning and execution of the International Women’s Day celebration in 2024.
Cole said that both bodies would organise series of events and activities to highlight the achievements and contributions of women in journalism, technology, and other disciplines.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as part of the partnership, NAWOJ Lagos and WUGN were poised to work together to leverage Wikimedia platforms and resources to promote gender equality and amplify the voices of women journalists in Lagos State.
It also reports that this joint effort underscores the importance of inclusivity and diversity in media representation and content creation.(NAN)
By Abubakar Yunusa
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has slashed its ex-depot price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to N825.
Esan Sunday, head of media relations and branding communications at Dangote Group, announced the reduction in a statement on Wednesday.
The development comes more than three weeks after the refinery reduced petrol price from N950 per litre to N890.
The new price means that the refinery has significantly cut the ex-depot price by N125 from N950 per litre in January.
“This recent price reduction will also ensure that Nigerians pay between N860 and N865 per litre for petrol at the pump in Lagos,” the statement reads.
“This strategic price adjustment is designed to provide essential relief to Nigerians in celebration of the Ramadan season, while also supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic recovery policy by alleviating the financial burden on the Nigerian populace.
“It is important to note that Dangote Petroleum Refinery has consistently lowered the prices of petrol and other refined petroleum products to the benefit of Nigerians.
“This marks the second reduction of PMS prices in February 2025, following a previous decrease of N60 earlier in the month.
“Additionally, in December 2024, during the yuletide period, the refinery reduced the price of PMS by N70.50, from N970 to N899.50 per litre, as part of its commitment to easing the cost of living and providing relief to Nigerians during the holiday season.”
The oil firm refinery also said previous reductions have positively impacted the overall cost of living, benefiting various sectors of the economy.
Dangote refinery added that its high-quality products, which have become a favourite in both domestic and international markets, will remain available nationwide, particularly through its key partners — MRS Holdings, AP (Ardova Petroleum), and Heyden — at market-friendly rates.
The organisation assured the public of a consistent supply of petroleum products, with sufficient reserves to meet domestic demand and a surplus for export, thereby boosting the country’s foreign exchange (FX) earnings.
The refinery also called on marketers to support the initiative, ensuring that Nigerians remain the primary beneficiaries of its effort
Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the ruling party had a debt of N8.9 billion when he assumed office.
Ganduje took over from Abdullahi Adamu, who was the national chairman of the APC until his resignation in July 2023.
Speaking during the APC’s NEC meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the former Kano governor said the expenses were incurred during pre-election legal battles, election cases, and appeals for legislative, governorship, and presidential elections.
“The current NWC inherited debts and legal liabilities to the total tune of N8,987,874,663, arising from various legal engagements,” Ganduje said.
However, the APC chairman said Kareem Kana, the national legal adviser, has been working to reduce the debt burden.
“We still passionately appeal to the national executive committee to intervene accordingly,” he said.
Earlier today, the chairman said the party is making efforts to mend internal divisions and bring aggrieved members back into the fold.
Ganduje explained that the APC had initiated high-level discussions among party leaders and stakeholders to address lingering disagreements and strengthen party unity.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of Paul and Peter Okoye of the defunct music group, P-Square, on charges of laundering ₦1.38billion, $ 1 million and £34,537.59.
Jude was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a seven-count charge
One of the counts read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira) only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another count read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did indirectly using bureau de change convert the sum of $1,019,762.87 (One million nineteen thousand, seven hundred and six-two dollars eighty-seven cents), domiciled in Access Bank Plc operated by Northside Music Lid to the naira equivalent and remitted into various bank accounts with the intention of concealing that the said fund form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Larry Peters Aso, applied for a date for hearing as well as for the remand of the defendant in the correctional facility pending trial.
The defendant’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, informed the court of a pending bail application. He asked for a short date for the hearing. Effiong also asked that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of the application.
Aso objected to the request for the defendant to be remanded in the EFCC custody. He argued that the EFCC custody was already congested with suspects awaiting arraignment. He urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional facility since he had taken his plea.
Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter till February 28 for bail hearing and April 14 for trial.
He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility.