The presidency has said that it has found out that President Bola Tinubu was not the first African leader to ring the NASDAQ bell.
Recall that a statement by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, on Thursday had referred to that fact.
”We inadvertently referred to President Bola Tinubu as the first African leader to ring the bell at NASDAQ on Wednesday in New York, based on the information provided by a third-party event organiser.
”We have since found out that this information was/is incorrect as a former African leader has indeed had the privilege. This error is sincerely regretted.”
The statement that was earlier given out said: ”In honour of President Bola Tinubu’s determined global push to aggressively attract foreign direct investment into Nigeria.
”The world’s second largest stock exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System (NASDAQ), on Wednesday in the world’s financial capital, invited President Tinubu to ring the closing bell.
”Making him the first African President to ever receive the honour”.
Earlier on Friday afternoon, a Brand Consultant, Eddy Ademosu had raised an objection to the statement, stating that the Tanzanian President, Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete first rang the NASDAQ Stock “Market Closing Bell at NASDAQ MarketSite at 4 Times Square, New York, Wednesday September 21, 2011”. So, where is the authenticity of being the “first African leader to ring the closing bell of NASDAQ” here?.