News
Group Seeks More Women In Governance
Women have been called upon by the Association of Corporate Governance Professionals of Nigeria (ACGPN) to venture into governance even as they appeal to President Bola Tinubu and state governors to ensure increased women representation into public offices in their political appointments.
President of the association, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, made the appealed at a media briefing in Lagos on Monday to herald its forthcoming maiden Women In Governance (WIG) 2023 Conference.
Ohuabunwa said the forthcoming conference which is slated for July 13 at Providence Hotel in Ikeja is with the theme: “Inspiring Visionary Governance: The Role of Women”.
He noted that the appointment of women into various public offices by the President and the governors would close the gap of gender inequality and to fulfill their campaign promises.
He decried that several women in politics had emerged as candidates of their various political parties but their male counterparts outweighed them.
The groups statement reads:
“We want to use this forthcoming conference to urge the Federal and state governments to appoint more women ministers, commissioners, heads of agencies with a view to closing the gap.
“Especially as the President and other state governors are preparing to release the names of ministers, heads of agencies and parastatals for political appointments.
“The association is urging them to ensure that at least, 35 per cent women representation in public offices is achieved.,” he said.
Ohuabunwa said the association realised that the greatest resource to drive corporate and organisational success was the human capital, in which this capital resided in both male and female genders.
He, however, said that for a long time, most nations, including Nigeria had failed to optimise this resource, often preferring to fire only one engine (male) while sub -optimising the second equally powerful engine( female).
According to him, every pilot knows the danger of flying a twin engine turbo on only one engine. Thrust is low, stability is compromised and safety is imperilled.
Ohuabunwa said since Beijing, Nigeria and many other nations had become more deliberate in creating conducive opportunities for the women folk to climb to the top of their careers hitherto ‘reserved’ for only the men folk.
He noted that the association had, therefore, decided to convene this women In governance conference as part of the national effort to highlight what the women folk were bringing into governance.
The president said this forthcoming conference was also to x-ray those factors that were delaying or inhibiting their orderly trajectory.
He said highly accomplished women in political governance, public sector governance and corporate governance would present papers and lead discussions, followed by panel sessions.
Ohuabunwa said there would be plenty of opportunities for networking and building partnerships during the conference.
He said the invited Special Guests of Honour, Guests of Honour and Special Guests including the Wives of some state governors like Dr Ibijoke Sanwoolu, legislators, and Economic Diplomats like Dr Stella Okoli.
He said the main speakers would be : Mrs Olajumoke Simplice, Past President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation( CITN); Mrs Ebisan Onyema, Managing Director of Avery Nigeria Ltd; Mrs Omotayo Gbajabiamila, Director, Cabinet office, Lagos State Government.
“Others are Prof. Modupe Osho, former vice chancellor, Afe Babalola University: Mrs Felicia David, Managing Director, Alliance and General Insurance Plc; Mrs Afolake Lawal, Managing Partner, Imperial Law Office, Lagos among others.
Ohuabunwa said the association was set to create a national adoption of good governance principles and the creating of the enabling environment to promote women involvement in governance at all levels of the national endeavour.
President Bola Tinubu has officially sworn in Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The ceremony followed the Senate’s confirmation of Amupitan’s appointment last week after a rigorous screening session on October 16.
At the swearing-in, President Tinubu tasked Amupitan with safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s elections and strengthening INEC’s institutional capacity.
“As the chairman of INEC, your nomination and confirmation reflect the confidence reposed in you by both the executive and legislative arms of government. This marks the start of a challenging yet rewarding journey, and I trust you will approach your duties with integrity, dedication, and patriotism,” Tinubu said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s democratic progress over 25 years, the President emphasized the need for continuous innovation and reform to maintain free, fair, and credible elections. He urged Amupitan to ensure transparency and public trust throughout the entire electoral process—from voter registration and campaigning to voting and counting.
Amupitan, a professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), arrived at the State House on Thursday dressed in traditional white agbada and gold cap ahead of the formal ceremony. He was accompanied by presidential aides.
During his Senate screening, the 58-year-old nominee pledged to restore credibility to Nigeria’s electoral process by prioritizing reforms, including strengthening the Electoral Act to resolve inconsistencies in election timelines and enhance transparency.
“We must conduct elections where even the loser congratulates the winner fairly,” Amupitan told senators, emphasizing the need to rebuild voter confidence.
He also clarified his neutrality by denying any involvement in President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court, stating, “I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any party.”
Amupitan succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu as the sixth substantive INEC chairman since the commission’s establishment. He is expected to immediately begin the transition process at INEC headquarters in Abuja following his swearing-in.
Profile
Born on April 25, 1967, the 58-year-old Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau State. He is also an alumnus of the university.
He specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014.
After completing primary and secondary education, he attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, and the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987. He was called to the bar in 1988.
Amupitan earned an LLM at UNIJOS in 1993 and a PhD in 2007, amid an academic career that began in 1989, following his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation in Bauchi from 1988 to 1989.
He currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, a position he holds in conjunction with being the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
Among the academic positions he has held at UNIJOS are: Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014); Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014); and Head of Public Law (2006-2008).
Outside of academics, Amupitan serves as a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and a member of the Council of Legal Education (2008-2014), among other roles. He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja(1996-2004).
Amupitan is the author of many books on law, such as Corporate Governance: Models and Principles(2008); Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008); Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria(2013), Principles of Company Law(2013) and an Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014).
He is married and has four children.
Dangote Group has denied owning the truck that crushed a pregnant woman, a child, and six others to death in an accident in Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The company issued the clarification in a statement on its X account on Wednesday.
The statement followed reports that a cement-laden truck suffered brake failure and rammed into traders and other road users.
Reacting, Dangote Group said the truck involved in the tragic incident does not belong to the group or any of its subsidiaries.
It added that vehicle registration records confirm the truck is owned and operated by an independent logistics company with no affiliation to Dangote Group.
“Dangote Group has refuted reports circulating on social media and in some online platforms linking it to a truck involved in a road accident in Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.
“The company wishes to make it categorically clear that the truck involved in the unfortunate incident does not belong to Dangote Group or any of its subsidiaries.
“Verified vehicle registration details confirm that the truck with Plate No. JJJ 365 XB is owned and operated by an independent logistics company with no affiliation to Dangote Group,” the statement reads.
News
VIDEO: Sowore Arrested at Federal High Court Premises, Abuja, After Meeting Nnamdi Kanu.
“The commissioner of police said we should bring you to the office,” the policeman said.
Police operatives have arrested former presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Sowore was forcibly taken away by armed police officers from the Federal High Court premises in Abuja on Thursday, October 23, 2025, shortly after attending the court session of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore, who has been leading campaigns for Kanu’s release, was confronted by security operatives who insisted he accompany them to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
Eyewitnesses disclosed that the officers surrounded him moments after he exited the courtroom, refusing to disclose specific details about his alleged offence.
When questioned by onlookers, one of the policemen stated that they were acting on the directive of the FCT Commissioner of Police.
“The commissioner of police said we should bring you to the office,” the policeman said.
As of the time of filing this report, the reason for Sowore’s arrest and his current whereabouts remain unclear.
Credit: Punch
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