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New Zealand Dismisses United Kingdom Ambassador Over Remarks on Trump’s Historical Knowledge

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Kingdom Ambassador

New Zealand Dismisses United Kingdom Ambassador Over Remarks on Trump’s Historical Knowledge

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, dismissed the country’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Phil Goff, on Thursday after remarks he made that were perceived as critical of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Goff, speaking at a forum in London on Tuesday, appeared to question Trump’s understanding of history, drawing a comparison between the former president’s approach to Russia and Winston Churchill’s wartime leadership against Nazi Germany.

“President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?” Goff asked during a panel discussion with Finland’s Foreign Minister, Elina Valtonen.

Kingdom Ambassador

United Kingdom Ambassador

In response, Peters issued a statement expressing disappointment in Goff’s comments, emphasizing that they did not reflect the New Zealand government’s stance.

“They do not represent the views of the NZ Government and make his position as High Commissioner to London untenable,” Peters stated.

Goff, a former foreign minister and Labour Party lawmaker, had been appointed as New Zealand’s ambassador to the UK in 2023.

International

Amnesty International: Tinubu Government Failing To Protect Nigerians As Bandits Attack, Abduct at Will

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Amnesty International

Amnesty International: Tinubu Government Failing To Protect Nigerians As Bandits Attack, Abduct at Will

Amnesty International: Tinubu government failing to protect Nigerians as bandits attack, abduct at will. The group noted that suspected perpetrators of killings and abductions often escape justice.

Global human rights organisation Amnesty International Nigeria has slammed President Bola Tinubu, accusing his administration of failing in its primary constitutional duty to protect the lives and property of Nigerians amid a renewed wave of bandit attacks and mass abductions in major cities across the country.

In a statement released on its X handle on Monday, the organisation said armed groups continue to operate with stunning boldness and near-total impunity, raiding communities, kidnapping residents, and displacing thousands  while Mr Tinubu’s administration’s approach to security remains grossly inadequate.

“Nigeria, attacks by gunmen and abductions for ransom are increasingly becoming a daily routine. The government of President Bola Tinubu is failing in its constitutional and international human rights obligations to protect lives of all people and to ensure access to justice for victims,” the statement read.
The human rights group said that the frequency and brutality of the attacks by bandits show a catastrophic failure of governance, insisting that Mr Tinubu-led administration has not demonstrated the political will required to halt the bloodshed.

The group noted that suspected perpetrators of killings and abductions often escape justice, leaving victims without any form of redress.

“Suspected perpetrators of the killings and abductions invariably escape justice, while victims are directly and indirectly denied any form of redress. In many rural communities, only the graveyards are expanding daily.”

Amnesty International

Amnesty International

The organisation called on Mr Tinubu to urgently address the nation’s escalating security crisis.
It highlighted the recent surge in attacks by Boko Haram, Ansaru, Lakurawa, Mamuda, and other armed groups, warning that current government measures are not working.

“President Tinubu must fulfill his promises to Nigerians and urgently address the resurgence of the nation’s endemic security crisis.

“The recent escalation of attacks by Boko Haram, Ansaru, Lakurawa, Mamuda and other armed groups shows that the security measures implemented by President Tinubu’s government are simply not working,” the group added.

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Education

National Examinations Council (NECO) Accredits Schools In Burkina Faso For SSCE, BECE

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Tinubu Government To Adopt Private CBT Centres For NECO

National Examinations Council (NECO) Accredits Schools In Burkina Faso For SSCE, BECE

National Examinations Council (NECO) accredits schools in Burkina Faso for SSCE, BECE. He said that the accreditation would reduce financial strain on parents.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has granted accreditation to schools  in Burkina Faso to host its examinations, widening its international footprint.

This is contained in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja on Sunday by the council’s acting diirector of information and public relations, Azeez Sani.
Mr Sani said the council would now begin to conduct the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the West African country.
According to him, the move follows a comprehensive assessment visit by a NECO accreditation team to selected schools in the West African country.

“During the visit, the team evaluated the readiness of the institutions by inspecting classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer labs, workshops, examination halls, sports facilities, and security architecture.

“They also reviewed the schools’ Continuous Assessment (CA) records, teacher adequacy, and general learning environment to determine suitability for NECO examinations.
“After what was described as a thorough and detailed evaluation, the schools were granted full accreditation to host the SSCE and BECE,” he said.

Mr Sani noted that the expansion into Burkina Faso underscored NECO’s commitment to delivering quality education and assessment services beyond Nigeria’s borders.

“With its expanding global presence, NECO is poised to become a leading examination body in Africa, offering opportunities for Nigerian students and other foreign nationals worldwide to benefit from its expertise,” he said.

He recalled the recent establishment of an examination centre in London, United Kingdom, adding to existing centres in Togo, Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, M.D. Galadima, commended NECO for the expansion, describing it as a relief for Nigerian families in the country.

Tinubu Government To Adopt Private CBT Centres For NECO

National Examinations Council

Mr Galadima revealed that parents had long grappled with challenges arising from differences in educational systems and the lack of English language schools.
“Previously, parents had to take their children to Saki, Oyo State, to register and write the examination, exposing students and parents to security risks and imposing heavy financial burdens on families and school proprietors,” he said.

He added that the accreditation would eliminate these risks and reduce financial strain on parents. The ambassador urged the Nigerian community in Burkina Faso to take advantage of the opportunity by registering their children for NECO examinations.

Leader of the accreditation team, Dr Uche Ezenwanne, said the move would enable Nigerian students living in Burkina Faso to write SSCE and BECE without traveling back to Nigeria.

This move, he said, would reinforce NECO’s position as Africa’s foremost examination body.

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Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom Governor Pledges Commitment To Tourism, Blue Economy Development

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Maritime Growth

Akwa Ibom Governor Pledges Commitment To Tourism, Blue Economy Development

Akwa Ibom governor pledges commitment to tourism, blue economy development… commends Editi Effiong for projecting State’s tourism potentials

As part of his effort to encourage tourism and enhance the State’s blue economy, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to encourage and reward young professionals who are willing to collaborate with his administration in promoting the positive image of the State through the ARISE Agenda.

The Governor made this known while fielding questions from Government House correspondents shortly after embarking on inspection of a locale of a movie, “The Black Book 2” (Old Scores), at Ishiet Beach/Market in Uruan Local Government Area.

He commended the movie Producer and Director, Mr. Editi Effiong, for his talent, vision, inspiration, and creative ability to project the tourism potentials and boost the economy of the State.

Governor Eno charged young Akwa Ibomites to shun divisive tendencies, be inspired, and emulate the creative effort of successful Akwa Ibom sons and daughters by joining hands to develop the tourism and blue economy of the State.

“The impression is amazing, seeing that we have one of our own trying to pull the world down here.

“I would love to thank and encourage him, and to let our young people see that Akwa Ibom has what it takes to drag the world’s attention.

“It depends on what you see. Someone can see this place and write one story about a swamp that has been abandoned and make all the noise. Another person sees this place and makes a great movie out of it that will market this place to the world and is able to attract the attention because of the work he has done here,” he said.

The State Chief Executive pledged his encouragement, support, and collaboration with Editi and other young Akwa Ibomites to enable them rise to the zenith of their calling.

“We are going to work with him. Editi is a young man I have known very well. This is one thing I say to our people in the diaspora, let’s partner. Come back home, whatever you see out there, bring it back here, and let’s work together.

“I think that is the story, and I am really impressed. If you know the number of people that have visited this State in the course of this film, the talents, and the caliber of artists that have been here, then this young man deserves an award and our support,” he added.

Maritime Growth

Ibom Deep SeaPort

On his part, the movie Producer and Director, Effiong, appreciated Governor Eno for his visionary leadership and passion for tourism development.

He expressed gratitude to the Governor for creating a hospitable and tourism friendly ecosystem to enhance talent exploration through the provision of good road network and quality modern facilities which distinguished the State as one of the most treasured locations in the country.

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