President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for Abuja, after participating in the 19th G20 Leaders Summit.

President Tinubu took off from Galeao Air Force Base, Rio at 10:30 am (local time), on Saturday.

While in Rio de Janeiro, Tinubu expressed Nigeria’s readiness to represent Africa in the United Nations Security Council.

He called on the council to reflect global diversity by allocating two permanent seats to Africa, as Nigeria “stands ready and willing to serve as a representative of Africa in this capacity.”

At the summit, President Tinubu lauded the global alliance against hunger and poverty and described the Alliance as a significant milestone in eradicating global hunger and poverty.

On the sidelines of the G20 summit, the Nigerian Leader also held bilateral talks with Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), who commended the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms and the positive indicators.
President Tinubu also presided over the signing of a $2.5 billion Letter of Intent between the Nigerian government and JBS S.A., a Brazilian company and one of the top three largest meat processing companies globally.

President Tinubu left Abuja for Brazil last Sunday, November 17, after hosting the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a state visit to Nigeria.

He was accompanied on the official trip by top government officials including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Ministers of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Art, Tourism, Culture and Creativity, Hannatu Musawa, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed

he senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on student engagement, Sunday Asefon, has emphasised that student welfare and educational development remain central to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Asefon, a former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, highlighted the President’s unwavering commitment to renewing hope for Nigerian students and ensuring that every young Nigerian is equipped to succeed in an ever-evolving world.

The presidential aide spoke on Wednesday in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2024 International Student Day, where the best-performing students in the 2022/2023 Law School Abuja, 2024 Common Entrance Examination, Junior WAEC, National Examination Council, and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) were presented with laptops, cash rewards, and scholarships.

Additionally, the best graduating tertiary institution students from each geopolitical zone received postgraduate scholarship awards and cash prizes.

The cash gifts and other prizes were handed to the students in collaboration with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), National Information Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Zenith Bank, and Brisco, among others.

Asefon noted that some of the initiatives introduced by the Tinubu administration have continued to improve the welfare of students nationwide.

He said: “The establishment of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund has ensured access to higher education for students, removing financial barriers and creating opportunities for all.

“The removal of all tertiary institutions staff from IPPIS has taken care of the primary cause of incessant strikes by academic staff unions, thus fostering academic stability.

“These achievements and more reflect President Tinubu’s dedication to ensuring education is a priority, not just a policy.
“Let me reiterate that student welfare and education development remain central to the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His administration has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to renewing the hope of Nigerian students and ensuring that every young Nigerian is equipped to succeed in an ever-evolving world.”

Asefon noted that one year since he was appointed the senior special assistant to the president on student engagement, his office has pursued innovative solutions and proactive engagements to advance the welfare and development of Nigerian students.

Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, assured Nigerian youth and students that the current administration would bring governance to their doorsteps.

Ayodele said that most of the policies of the government would soon begin to yield results.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to confirm the Acting Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo as the substantive boss of the apex regulatory body.

The umbrella body of indigenous carriers said it was making the passionate appeal to President Tinubu because of the transformation, they said Najomo has been brought into the regulatory agency since his appointment last year.

The AON said affirming his appointment in substantive capacity will trigger robust civil aviation oversight responsibility for an industry critical for the country’s economic growth.

AON’s Vice President, Allen Onyema and its spokesperson, Professor Obiora Okonkwo in their presentations at an International Air Transport Conference passed a vote of confidence on Najomo , for his style of leadership in steering the affairs of the aviation sector given his vast experience and pedigree as foremost pilot and airline manager.

The two leaders described the changes taking place in the regulatory aspect of the country’s aviation as commendable saying the feat has made the Nigeria CAA one of the best in the world and affirmed that domestic operators have never had it so good in the country.

According to them, the coming on board of Najomo into the CAA has revolutionized the sector as it has ensured safety of aircraft and passengers right to topical issues that airlines and airport workers take seriously.