Nigeria Roundup: Investments, health development, corruption
Investments
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has extended an invitation to international investors from G20 nations to invest in the country. During a panel discussion, the president noted that Nigeria is one of Africa’s vibrant youth-populated countries that can maximise investor monies. He also highlighted how safe these financial investments will be. “There is stability and predictability in the socio-political development of our country, which provides a conducive atmosphere for business operations and investment,” he is quoted by Nigerian website Punch.
Football nominations
Nigerian footballers Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala have been nominated in the men's and women's categories for the 2023 Globe Soccer Award, Nigeria’s The Guardian reports. The two who are also international players will battle for the award with other nominees in their respective categories. Osimhen will face 29 other nominees while Oshoala competes with 19 other nominees. The men’s category has nominees including Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo among others. This is the 14th edition of the Globe Award.
Agriculture revamp
Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has promised the production of 2,000 tractors for the country on an annual basis to enhance food security and employment in the country, Premium Times reports. Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from John Deere, an American corporation that manufactures agricultural machinery, the Agriculture Minister, Abubakar Kyari said the government will provide an enabling environment to make the tractors affordable at low-interest rates to Nigerian farmers and boost all-year-round farming, especially for women and youth.
Corruption activities
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has revealed that some personnel working for the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife, Osun state have been employed without provision in the government’s budget. This was established by an investigative panel established by the ministry. Premium Times disclosed that the Acting Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Afolabi Owojuyigbe according to the Federal Ministry’s statement, employed over 1,973 staff as against the waiver for 450 vacancies granted to the hospital in the 2022 employment process by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Funds for health delivery
Nigeria’s Federal government is requesting for more funds to tackle Neglected Tropical Diseases in the country by 2027, Punch has reported. Director of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Chukwuma Anyaike, during a roundtable meeting in Abuja to mark Sightsavers’ 70th anniversary in the country, said more funds would help in eliminating these diseases while improving health status and preventing mortality and morbidity in the country.
