Onu died on Thursday at the age of 72.

In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari described Onu as “one of Nigeria’s most outstanding scientific minds and intellectuals.”

Buhari extended his condolences to the family of the former chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, whom he described as a notable politician.

The statement is titled ‘Buhari mourns intellectual giant Ogbonnaya Onu.’

“He was an intellectual giant. My heart goes out to his family, the government, the people of Abia State and the country at large. May his soul rest in peace,” Buhari said

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According to a statement by WorldStage, the organizers, keynote speakers at the summit will include Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, Nigeria; Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, Nigeria; and Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission.

The experts who will discuss the theme of the summit ‘New Reality: Consolidating Economic Diversification’ include Abiola Rasaq, Head, Corporate Strategy, Central Securities Clearing System, Lagos, Nigeria; Dr Joy Ofinjite Ogaji, Pioneer Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC); Nosa Omorodion, Director, National Companies & Independents; Schlumberger Companies Nigeria and West Africa; and Dr Ayodele Shittu, Economics, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Coach, Department of Economics, University of Lagos.

Interested stakeholders across the world are expected to register freely through the Zoom Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvceiprjMpHNQiVYFLXxEPfTEXwW9T-izt for them to participate in the summit.

President/CEO, World Stage Limited, Segun Adeleye said the theme of the WES 2020 is timely as the twin challenges of COVID- 19 and EndSARS protests across Nigeria have exposed the fragility of our peaceful coexistence as the youths have been limited to hopelessness.

He said economic diversification is the key to address youth unemployment which could be linked to the frustration that sparked off the latest protests.

“The lesson learnt from EndSARS protests by the youth demands rapid action on the part of the business and political leaders to open up opportunities through economic diversification,” he said.

With the non-oil sector contributing 91.07% to Nigeria’s total GDP in Q2-2020 compared with 8.93% from crude oil, one may not be wrong to say that the economy is already diversified. But there is an anomaly in the reality that the oil sector is responsible for 95% of foreign exchange earnings.

Since oil was discovered in Nigeria in 1956 at Oloibiri in the Niger Delta after half a century of exploration, there is still a wide gap between the exploration and integration into the economy to reflect an appreciable contribution to employment and the GDP, while the non-oil sector has not stepped up to become competitive, break into the global market and attract commensurate quantity of foreign exchange to strengthen the Naira and attract foreign investment.

With Nigeria accounting for over 51% of West Africa’s population of 403,303,318 as at August, 2020 (United Nations estimates), its products- services, agriculture, and industries can dominate the sub- region if well packaged and delivered to bring in the much needed foreign exchange.

The focus of the WorldStage Economic Summit 2020 will be to access the economic diversification journey and proffer solutions on the way to fast track industrialization.

Specifically, economic and political leaders will revisit the issues of: Ease of doing business; policy instruments, infrastructural advancement (power, transportation, others), banking and cashless economy, education and skill, regional/global outlook, macroeconomic policies, boosting agriculture and agricultural value chains, strengthening manufacturing sector, credit and venture capital, minerals exploration, blue economy, innovation and destructive technology, human capital advancement, and Corporate governance/anti corruption.

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Although the virus first broke out in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, Iwu, the chief executive officer of Bioresources Institute of Nigeria (BION), a research organisation, said his team had worked on solutions to the virus since 2015.

He said this when he led members of his team to Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, and Ogbonnaya Onu, his science and technology counterpart, in Abuja on Monday.

Iwu commended the federal government for the efforts to find a cure to the deadly virus.

“Honourable Minister, Sir, I am here to formally brief you about our drug discovery project, which has led to the identification of a potential treatment agent for Coronavirus infections,” he said.

“Your Excellency will recall that when the Ebola virus infection broke out in 2014 many people were surprised that our research group had an experimental lead compound that was identified 15 years earlier in 1999.

“And now with the emergence of a novel Coronavirus in 2019 as Covid-19 we had identified and patented a possible treatment back in 2015. It is very important that we must remain ahead of these emergent infections through research.

“We have under consideration possible dosage forms including a combination product formulation of the three agents (Rhygyfyn) described in our patents as broad spectrum antiviral drug, identified and developed here in Nigeria.

“We are set to introduce the products but our only limitation is finance. As you well know, science is a very expensive undertaking. I will like to plead with you to use your good office to kindly appeal to Nigerians for their support.”

In 2014, he had said bitter kola could serve as a cure to Ebola virus, a claim which was largely debunked by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

Iwu has been associated with several controversies. The 2007 elections he conducted was so controversial that the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, one of the beneficiaries admitted that the exercise was flawed.

In October, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the former INEC boss over allegation of N1.2 billion fraud.

He was accused of aiding the concealment of N1.23bn in the account of Bioresources Institute of Nigeria Limited between December 2014 and March 27, 2015.

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President Muhammadu Buhari led other members of the Federal Executive Council to bid the Ekiti State governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress farewell at a brief event held inside the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The session was held before the start of the weekly meeting of the FEC presided over by Buhari, who described Fayemi as a man of sound intellect, noting that the minister’s contributions helped the present administration to achieve progress, especially in the solid minerals sector.

Fayemi’s former colleagues in the cabinet expressed the belief that he has what he takes to rescue his state. The former minister thanked Buhari and his colleagues for the honour.

Six members of the cabinet were selected from the six geopolitical zones to speak on Fayemi with the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu saying that Fayemi is both special and unique.

According to him, he played important roles in the ruling party and creation of the Progressives Governors Forum.

Minister of Interior, Abdulraman Danbazzau said “I found him to be a gentle man and an academic of repute,” while the Minister of Women Affairs, Amina Alhassan said that Fayemi has repositioned the Ministry of Mines and Steel in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision.

She also noted that Fayemi was a gender friendly minister.

On her part, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun said “He is a unique public servant,” while the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said that Fayemi was instrumental to his success as Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum.

Fayemi’s Deputy Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Bawa Bwari said that the Ministry will greatly miss him.

In his remarks, Fayemi, who jokingly said that he would have to learn how to dodge bullets, said that his winning Ekiti State Governorship seat will not be a national loss as it will serve the country better.

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Umahi had on Saturday in Abakaliki, threatened to probe the Elechi’s administration of 2007 – 2015, for “massive financial malpractices”.

Umahi had stated that he had covered his predecessors ‘sins’ enough and would publish the details of the probe in newspapers and other media channels.

He accused his former boss, who he served as deputy governor, for failing to pay past leaders, including the Minster of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, their pensions and severance allowances.

The governed faulted Elechi for ‘crying’ over non-payment of his pensions “when he failed to pay pensioners in the state since 2009.

But Elechi told newsmen in Abakaliki on Thursday that the governor had been probing him and his two sons since 2015.

“I handed over to Umahi on May.29, 2015, participated in his thanksgiving service on June 7, 2015, but received a letter of summon from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on June 9, 2015.

“The petitions, which EFCC sources said were more than 50, were written by the present Ebonyi government through the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

“We visited the anti-graft agency regularly since and the last time I visited there in May 2016, I was shown a later from the Attorney- General where I was accused of several financial malpractices,” he said.

Elechi said that the petitioners’ allegations against him included his government’s involvement in the establishment of the state cement, oil and gas, rice production companies, among others.

“I gave my own side of the story and presented copies of the same petition which the attorney-general issued me in November, 2015 over the same alleged offences.

“It is then clear that Umahi must not be saying that he will probe me but say that he will continue from where he stopped with the probe since 2015.

“When I rejected the car offer Umahi made to me over these issues, he denied that his government had hands in the probe and I consider this statement as a lie.

“There is no way Umahi will not be aware of a probe instituted by the Attorney-General of his government.

“One of my sons is currently facing a court trial instituted by Umahi’s government.

“I am not running away from Umahi’s probe. I have survived five different probes when Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s administration was toppled, having served in the East-Central state administration.

“I faced two judicial and three administrative boards of inquiry, was arrested three times by the police and had two suits filed against me at the Enugu High Court, all within that period.

“All these fizzled because I was not found culpable and there was no way I would be afraid of probe presently, especially when it was ongoing,” he said.

The former governor noted that his government earmarked N10 million monthly to offset pensions all through his administration and the public could verify from the office of the state Accountant-General.

“The circular over the payment entitlement of past leaders was issued by the Federal Government and Onu’s own payment was supposed to be made by the Abia government, as the governor of the old Abia.

“Umahi has the right to feel bad that I failed to support him to succeed me, but I don’t regret my actions and he should not see me as problem of his administration,” he said.

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A statement by Garba Shehu, senior special assistant on media and publicity, said that the president was presented with a request to attend the Economic and Security Summit by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.

“The President happily accepted. The visit to Enugu was scheduled for Thursday 22nd as can be found on the weekly programme. After this was done, some other stakeholders from the South East came and advised him to not go in view of the closeness of the date to Christmas; that given the sensitivity of the period to the people, a presidential visit may come with over exertion and possibly, be disruptive of Christmas.

“In view of this, President Buhari requested that the event be pushed forward to January, 2017. Given his nature, he did not insist. He said if the change of date is not possible, then the event can go on without him. That is what the organizers chose to do.

“The President did not, and he absolutely has no reason to snub anyone one,” the statement stressed.

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The applicant, Human Rights Foundation International, sought the order in its substantive suit where it prayed the court to compel the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to “perform their statutory obligations” by immediately arresting and prosecuting the two ministers.

The group also sought an order of mandamus compelling President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack both ministers “in the interest of the public and morality” based on allegations of attempts to influence court decisions as claimed by the two jurists.

A copy of the enrolled order made on December 1 specifically called for the disengagement of the ministers pending when they were cleared by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The plaintiff further asked for an order of mandamus under the reviewed Administrative Action/Inaction Procedure, to first seek and obtain the leave of court through an ex-parte application to properly commence the suit.

In the relief sought, the plaintiff raised the following questions: “Whether or not the allegation made by Justices Inyang Okoro and Sylvester N. Ngwuta in connection with the criminal-like invasion of their houses by the DSS on allegation of corruption, which the matter is already in the public domain, should be investigated and those arrested be prosecuted by the third and fourth defendants.

“Whether or not the allegation is a reasonable ground to warrant the 5th defendant, which is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and who claims that his administration is fighting corruption, to sack or compel Amaechi and Onu to resign from office as ministers pending when they are cleared of every allegation of corruption.”

Both justices had in two separate correspondences to former Chief Justice Mahmud Mohammed accused the ministers of attempting to influence court decisions in some election cases between 2015 and this year.

The matter has, however, been slated for mention on December 15.

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Justice Ngwuta, in a letter dated October 18, which he forwarded to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed and the National Judicial Council, NJC, specifically fingered the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, as those that approached him on behalf of the APC.

In the letter entitled: “Invasion Of My House In The Night, Planting Of Huge Sums Of Money In Different Currencies, Purported Recovery Of The Money, Carting Away Of My Documents And Other Valuable Items And My Subsequent Abduction By Masked Operatives Of The DSS Between Friday, October 7th And Saturday, October 8th, 2016”, Ngwuta, said Ameachi begged him to facilitate the removal of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.

He further disclosed that shortly after the Supreme Court affirmed the election of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Amaechi also called him on phone and said “Oga is not happy”.

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The Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, who spoke at the signing ceremony in Abuja at the weekend, said the MoU was necessary in order to advance the implementation process of government desire to enhance a healthy development of children through the programme.

While the project will address the lack of vital vitamins in children’s food, the minister said it was also conceived out of the need to tackle the increasing food challenges facing children in primary school between the ages of five and 13 years.

“This is surely the best way to go as the nation is giving serious attention to utilisation of indigenous technologies as a potent strategy to diversify the economy to provide alternative revenue sources.

“In this process, jobs will be created, wealth will be generated and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), will be enhanced through the productive sector of the economy,” he said.

According to him, the high nutrient density biscuits were one of the products of Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos, which would meet at least one- third recommended dietary allowance of Pupils.

In a remark, the General Manager of NASCO Foods, Ibrahim Sani, thanked the ministry for counting the company worthy to partner with it in the commercial production of the biscuits.

Sani, said NASCO Foods limited is an indigenous company that has contributed immensely to the economic development of Nigeria in its 50 years of existence.

The wholly indigenous company, according to him, has capacity and experience to produce biscuit products to feed estimated 25 million children in public primary schools across the country.

Also in a brief remark, the Director General,, FIIRO, Gloria Elemo, said the mandate of the institute was to carry out research and development into food and agro-allied processing technologies.

“The signing of MoU signifies the technical commencement of strategic partnership with NASCO Foods to fully commercialise the biscuits production technology.

“The biscuit is developed from indigenous crops which reflect the nation’s best in terms of foods security, safety and standard which will be commercially produced with this arrangement.”

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The ministers include Usani Usoro from Cross Rivers State, Ibe Kachukwu from Delta State, Ogbonnaya Onu from Ebonyi State as well as Osagie Ehanire from Edo State.

The second batch of four new ministers have just been sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The ministers are Senator Heineken Lokpobiri representing Bayelsa State, Audu Ogbe representing Benue State, Adamu Adamu representing Bauchi State and Hon. Sogori representing Borno State.

Earlier, the first batch of four comprising Chris Ngige, Udoma Udo Udoma, Muhammed Musa Bello, and Elamah representing Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa and Abia states respectively.

The programme is being anchored by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, the ministers are being sworn in in nine batches.

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