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Over 100 Youths Get Lucrative AI Jobs At Senator Abiru’s SAIL Innovation Lab

… *_Minister of Communications, Dr Bosun Tijani, Lagos State Commissioner for Science, Innovation and Technology, Hon. Tunbosun Alake, Others Laud Senator Abiru’s Visionary Leadership*
Over one hundred young people who had undergone Tech Talent and Data Science training at the SAIL Innovation Lab have gotten decent artificial intelligence jobs with Awari AI, a fast growing AI/Robotics firm that is enabling the development and adoption of frontier technology on the African continent starting from Nigeria.


The firm which has chosen the SAIL Innovation Lab in Ikorodu as a launchpad to several locations in Nigeria and Africa, also partnered with the SAIL Innovation Lab for continuous talent sourcing for the emerging multi-billion dollar AI industry that is expected to shape all spheres of life in a few years from now.
The co-founder of the SAIL Innovation Lab, the Senator representing Lagos East, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, in his remarks said the launch of partnership with Awari AI signaled the beginning of a transformative journey in Ikorodu, and Lagos East Senatorial District as a whole.


He said, “The Awarri AI project, which we launch today, stands as a testament to our resolute commitment to embracing technology and innovation. It heralds a new era where industries will be redefined, jobs will be created, and our youth will be empowered.
“Throughout the annals of history, humanity has been witness to extraordinary revolutions. From the advent of steam power to the electrifying dawn of electricity, and from the proliferation of computers to the connected world of the internet, each era brought profound transformations to our lives.
“ Today, we stand on the precipice of the 4th Industrial Revolution, a realm characterized by artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, biotechnology, and automation. This revolution promises unprecedented opportunities for Nigeria and Africa, and it is incumbent upon us to seize this moment”.
Senator Abiru disclosed that he was passionate about tech and digital skills because of the massive job opportunities and economic growth that the sector can facilitate. He recalled that since 2022 when he embarked on the SAIL Innovation Lab project with five pilot programmes, over 150 participants in-class and 1,200 online trainees have been impacted positively.
“Today, the SAIL Innovation Lab has left an indelible mark on the lives of over 4,173 participants through a diverse array of programs, including Tech Talent Development, STEM initiatives tailored for Senior Secondary School Students, Lagos East Teachers Fellowship, Start-Up Accelerator, and Data Science for Society.
“These programs have now evolved to offer job prospects through our esteemed partner organizations. Awarri AI has taken the lead by employing nearly 100 of our graduates and pledging to continue its role as a platform for future outstanding participants seeking employment.
“In an era where digital skills have become an essential currency, the SAIL Innovation Lab serves as a bridge, closing the digital divide. Our vision is to provide free training to young individuals in high-demand tech skills and work collaboratively with our partners to secure them decent job placements”, Senator Abiru said in his remarks.


The co-founders of Awari AI, Mr. Silas Adekunle and Ms Eniola Edun, said Artificial intelligence is the new wave that should be embraced by Nigeria in its quest to harness opportunities in the current digital and innovation age.
The minister of Communications and digital economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the SAIL Innovation Lab has been achieving its goals in less than seven months after the state of the earth innovation lab was commissioned.
Dr Tijani said, “We set out to open up the minds of young people to opportunities that are available globally, and these opportunities are no longer the preserve of the developed world. We live at a time when technology now connects each and everyone of us strongly. The technologies have given us the opportunities to overcome barriers and be part of the global economy.
According to him, Artificial Intelligence due to its foreign origin, “We (Nigerians) have not been able to participate fully and harness its benefits.For the first time in the history of Nigeria and anywhere in Nigeria, Awari AI have decided to start a company that will focus on building that knowledge so that computers will also think like us. For the first time in Nigeria, hundreds of people are being hired from the SAIL Innovation Lab”, the minister said.
The Commissioner for Science, Innovation and Technology, Hon. Tunbosun Alake, disclosed that the State Government will be partnering on the project. He thanked Senator Abiru for driving the initiative.
Dignitaries who graced the occasion include; Former deputy governor of Lagos State, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, HRM Oba Engr. Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Engr Bashir Sotonwa, the Sekumade of Ipakodo, Oba (Barrister) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, The Adegboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, Oba David Raji, The Eweye of Isiu, Prince Amid Oduborisha, President Oriwu Club, Local Government council chairmen, Hon. Abidoun Moshood Aro, Hon Gbolahan Ogunleye, Dr. Saheed Oladapo Ibikunle, Hon(Princess) Adebimpe Akinsola, Alhaja Abiodun Ogunniyi, Mr Deji Abisola, Chief impact consultant on SAIL Innovation Lab who worked on the project till date, among many others.
News
More tthan 20,000 people gather at the Vatican to Mourn Pope Francis

More than 20,000 people have gathered at the Vatican as mourners file past Pope Francis’s open coffin.
Pope Francis’s body has been moved from his residence in the Vatican to lie in state at St Peter’s Basilica.
Mourners are now filing past the coffin, which will stay in front of the Papal Altar during the three days of public mourning.
The Pope died on Monday morning – his funeral will take place on Saturday, attended by leaders from around the world.
Source : BBC
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JUST IN: Filling stations shut after Dangote Refinery’s petrol price drop

Some filling stations and petroleum products marketers, partners of Dangote Refinery’s petrol, temporarily shut down for the past five days after the latest premium motor spirit price drop by the 650,000 barrels per day refinery.
Recall that for the past five days, MRS filling stations in Abuja, along Kubwa Expressway, and others have not dispensed fuel since Dangote Refinery announced its ex-depot fuel price reduction to N835 per litre on Tuesday, 16 April, 2025.
An official of MRS filling station, who preferred anonymity because he is not authorised to speak said the filling station is grappling with the loss incurred after Dangote’s latest price adjustment.
“It is because of Dangote’s latest price drop. The filling station had old stock, which it couldn’t sell at a loss.
“This is the reason we have shut down since Tuesday. We may reopen on Tuesday,” he said.
Meanwhile, another official at the filling station said the retail outlet is billed to reopen on Tuesday, noting that it has been undergoing minor maintenance.
“We have been on maintenance for the past few days, which is the reason the station was shut. We will reopen on Tuesday,” he said.
According to him, the filling station would commence dispensing at the new price of N910 per litre from Tuesday.
Other partners of Dangote Refinery, such as AP, Ardova, and Optima, are dispensing fuel between N910 and 920 per litre in parts of Abuja as of Monday, 21st April 2025.
Reacting to the development, the National President of Petroleum Retailers Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, said the latest fuel price drop affected the purchasing power of petrol retailers and marketers.
According to him, indiscriminate price adjustment, whether downward or upward, is not good for the petroleum downstream sector and the Nigerian economy.
At every point, if prices of petrol are indiscriminately changed without any clearly defined economic reason, the chances that it will impact on the buying power of retailers and marketers are there.
“It is not good for business, the economy, and Nigerians.
“Prices of petrol change for reasons that are understandable with proper information to retailers,” he said.
Recall that Gillis-Harry had earlier called for a six-month fuel price stability plan to halt fluctuations.
Earlier, the spokesperson for the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, had hinted that marketers having old stocks of fuel will incur billions of losses following Dangote’s latest fuel price drop.
Last week became the second time the $20 billion refinery reduced its fuel price nationwide. This indicates a combined downward ex-depot price drop of N45 per litre.
Dangote Refinery had, on 10 April, reduced its gantry price of petrol to N865 per litre.
However, the ex-depot fuel price had further dropped to N835 per litre.
This comes after the federal government’s renewed commitment to the indefinite continuation of the naira-for-crude deal with other local refiners and the drop in global crude prices to around $66 per barrel.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited recently reduced its retail price to N935 per litre for customers in Abuja in response to Dangote Refinery’s latest price cut.
This means that Nigerians currently buy petrol at between N890 and N950 per litre, depending on the location nationwide.
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NNPC’s Olufemi Soneye Emerges NIPR Spokesperson for 2025
Responding, Soneye attributed his recognition by the NIPR with its most exalted spokesperson’s award to the dedication of the entire team at the NNPC.

Soneye (middle) receive NIPR’s prestigious award .
The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mr. Olufemi Soneye, has emerged the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) spokesperson of 2025.Announcing the award, the NIPR described Soneye as a “diligent” spokesperson, characterising him as “a strategist.” Soneye’s capacity to shape public opinion, also stood him out of the crowd of spokespersons, according to the Adjudication Committee, Chairman, Dr. Shaibu Hussein.
Represented by a member of the committee chairman, Lami Tuiaka, the chairman said the moment to the conclusion of the award was rigorous and demanding. He also predicated Soneye’s victory on his communication skills, crisis management and overall impact.
“Our committee comprising communication scholars, Public Relations practitioners, and media personalities worked tirelessly to review the nomination, assess performances and deliberate on the winner.
I must report that we carefully examined each nomination, considering factors such as communication skills, crisis management and overall impact,” he said.
Presenting him the plaque at the National Spokespersons Award 2025, chairman of the event Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Power, Hon. Joshua Audu, said the institute would celebrate Soneye throughout 2025 as the current NIPR spokesperson award winner.
He said: ” On behalf of the NIPR Award Night 2025, I have the honour and privilege to present the Spokesperson of the year 2025. Please join me to celebrate our latest spokesperson that we will celebrate throughout 2025 in the person of Olufemi Soneye.”
Responding, Soneye attributed his recognition by the NIPR with its most exalted spokesperson’s award to the dedication of the entire team at the NNPC.
Amid a standing ovation, he said: “We are all happy and I am deeply honoured to receive this award tonight from NIPR. This award reflects the dedication of our entire team and we want to thank NIPR for all they have been doing.”
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