National
Writers Congratulates Prof.Veronica On NLN’s 60th Anniversary
Writers under the aegis of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW Global) have extended their heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Chinwe Veronica Nwakaego Anunobi, the National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria (NLN), on the momentous occasion of the NLN’s 60th anniversary.
The milestone commemorates six decades of impactful contributions to Nigeria’s literary and educational landscape.
This statement was issued by the President of SYNW Global, Wole Adedoyin, in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
Founded under the National Library Act of 1964, the National Library of Nigeria has developed into a cornerstone institution, preserving, organizing, and promoting access to Nigeria’s literary and cultural heritage. SYNW Global applauded the NLN’s significant role over the past 60 years in promoting literacy, research, and knowledge dissemination nationwide.
“The NLN’s unwavering dedication to advancing reading culture and supporting education is truly commendable, and we are thrilled to celebrate this milestone with Prof. Anunobi and her team,” Adedoyin stated.
Under Prof. Anunobi’s leadership, the NLN has continually expanded its services and broadened its reach across various parts of Nigeria.
Her dynamic leadership approach has driven modernization efforts, introducing innovative projects that stressed her commitment to making information more accessible to all Nigerians.
SYNW Global lauded her forward-thinking vision, which has enhanced the library’s digital capabilities and fostered a vibrant reading culture throughout the country.
Prof. Anunobi’s tenure has seen the launch of numerous initiatives aimed at promoting reading among young Nigerians, including outreach programs, digital archives, and reading competitions.
The Society of Young Nigerian Writers recognized these efforts as vital to nurturing a generation of informed, engaged readers and writers and attributes much of the recent progress in Nigeria’s literary landscape to her effective stewardship of the NLN.
The NLN’s 60th anniversary serves as a celebration of its legacy and an opportunity to consider its future. SYNW Global urged the government and other stakeholders to continue their support for the NLN’s mission, particularly by increasing investment in library infrastructure, resources, and technology.
According to Adedoyin, “Adequate support for the NLN is essential to sustaining Nigeria’s intellectual growth and ensuring that knowledge remains accessible to every Nigerian.”
In honor of this anniversary, SYNW Global plans to collaborate with the NLN on projects that will engage young writers and readers nationwide. This partnership aims to highlight the essential role libraries play in nurturing creativity, promoting literacy, and preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
“We look forward to working closely with Prof. Anunobi to inspire young writers to appreciate and utilize the wealth of library resources available to them,” said Adedoyin.
The Society of Young Nigerian Writers encouraged young Nigerians to take full advantage of the National Library’s facilities, viewing it as more than a repository of books but as a gateway to knowledge, creativity, and personal development.
SYNW Global believed that under Prof. Anunobi’s guidance, the NLN will continue to evolve, staying relevant to the needs of present and future generations.
As the NLN celebrates six decades of excellence, SYNW Global reaffirmed its commitment to promoting a culture of reading and writing in Nigeria. This milestone attests to the resilience of Nigeria’s educational institutions and their lasting impact on society. Prof. Anunobi’s inspiring leadership will continue motivating young writers to engage with and contribute to Nigeria’s vibrant literary heritage.
SYNW Global finally extended its warmest wishes to Prof. Anunobi and the entire NLN team on this historic occasion. The Society remains optimistic that the next 60 years will bring even greater accomplishments for the National Library, with Prof. Anunobi’s legacy laying the foundation for continued growth and transformation within Nigeria’s literary and educational sectors.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially dissolved the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which includes the removal of Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mele Kyari and Chairman Pius Akinyelure, along with all other board members appointed in November 2023.
In an announcement, the President introduced an 11-member restructured board, appointing Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new GCEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as the Non-Executive Chairman. These changes are effective immediately, as stated by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy.
Emphasizing the need for “enhanced operational efficiency, restored investor confidence, and a more commercially viable NNPC,” President Tinubu exercised his authority under Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to implement this significant reorganization.
The newly formed board comprises Adedapo Segun, who continues as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), alongside six non-executive directors representing Nigeria’s geopolitical zones: Bello Rabiu (North West), Yusuf Usman (North East), Babs Omotowa (North Central), Austin Avuru (South-South), David Ige (South West), and Henry Obih (South East). Additionally, Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and Aminu Said Ahmed, representing the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, will serve on the board.
The President has charged the new board with conducting a strategic review of NNPC-operated and Joint Venture assets to optimize value. This includes increasing crude oil production to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027 and 3 million bpd by 2030, boosting gas production to 8 billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion by 2030, and expanding NNPC’s refining capacity to 200,000 bpd by 2027 and 500,000 bpd by 2030. The administration also aims to attract $30 billion in oil investments by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030, building on the $17 billion secured in 2024.
Ahmadu Musa Kida, the new Chairman, is a Borno-born engineer and former Deputy Managing Director of Total Nigeria. He also has a background in basketball, having served as the ex-president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the newly appointed GCEO, hails from Kwara State and was previously the Executive Vice President of Renaissance Africa Energy, where he led a $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell’s Nigerian assets. He brings extensive experience from Elf and Shell, having worked across Europe and the Middle East.
President Tinubu expressed gratitude to the outgoing board for their contributions, particularly their efforts in reviving the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which have resumed production after years of dormancy. Analysts view this leadership change as part of Tinubu’s broader reforms in the oil sector, following last year’s removal of fuel subsidies and the promotion of private refinery investments. With the new team established, there are high expectations for enhanced transparency, efficiency, and profitability within Nigeria’s state oil enterprise.
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.
The minority caucus in the house of representatives has condemned the killing of 16 Kano-bound hunters in Edo state.
On Thursday, a mob in the Uromi area of Edo killed 16 hunters of northern descent who were travelling from Elele, Rivers state.
The travellers were attacked and lynched after some vigilance group members raised the alarm on suspicion that they were kidnappers.
The Edo state government said 14 suspects arrested in connection with the killing would be transferred to Abuja for further interrogation.
During a visit to some of the families of the victims at Bankure LGA in Kano, Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, assured that justice would be served.
In a statement issued on Monday, the minority caucus described the killing of the hunters as “barbaric”.
“We find such brutal killings of innocent Nigerians in any part of the country by lawless mobs very reprehensible, and if allowed to fester without being put in check by responsible organs of the federal government, such actions could threaten the peace and unity of the country,” the statement reads.
The lawmakers asked Nigerians never to resort to jungle attacks on fellow citizens but to always report any concerns to security agencies.
“We are a nation under the rule of laws, and our law enforcement agencies are always available to partner with every Nigerian to assuage their concerns,” the caucus said.
While noting that the incident is “already setting emotions on edge” in parts of the country, the legislators urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the security agencies investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Also, adequate compensation should be paid to the affected families,” the caucus said.
The lawmakers implored Nigerians to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding and allow the federal and state governments to investigate the matter and ensure justice is served.
The statement was signed by Kingsley Chinda, minority leader; Ali Isa, minority whip; and Aliyu Madaki, deputy minority leader.