There are several conversations that have highlighted the need for a global energy transition from fossil-fueled based products to more sustainable and ecologically-friendly energy options. That being said, it would be remiss of us to ignore the current inequities developing countries face concerning energy access at different levels.

In the last four years, the administration acquired new air platforms for the Nigerian Air Force such as the JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter aircraft, the A29 Super Tucano aircraft, the Diamond 62 aircraft and the T129 attack helicopter beach craft & the unmanned aerial systems. The Air Force has also reactivated several aircrafts. The procurement process for military hardware has been reviewed to remove inefficiency & to introduce transparency. The huge investments in the capacity development of NAF have helped to turn the tide against terrorists.

In 1989, I was about to get married and I was searching for a good house to rent. I met my landlord, an elderly lawyer who obviously did more real estate than legal practice.

He let me know that there were 3 categories of people he would not rent the property in his care to - ...Ijebus, Igbos and Lawyers. I was disqualified on two accounts. He then said to me, pointing behind him in a few shrivelled-up books on a small bookshelf, that he had the arsenal to destroy any tenant in court if I gave him any trouble.

The Question of Insecurity.

There is some restiveness on the continent which is driven in part by poverty, alienation, environmental degradation and poor governance. The more pressing problem today is the encroachment by franchises of global terror groups in Africa. Although many African countries have acted vigorously to tackle those terrorist groups but there is so much more that can be done.

The Sahel appears to be the worst hit. According to the 2022 Global Terrorism Index, the Sahel has become home to the most deadly terrorist groups.

On #ClimateAction.

Africa can lead a revolutionary approach to climate change. One that recognizes Climate Action as the job engine for Africa. James Mwangi and his colleagues at Climate Action Platform Africa have presented this compelling point of view. They argue that instead of pushing the narrative of Africa as a victim and or insisting on business-as-usual growth which would make Africa a big future emitter...

Africa can take full advantage of the global complexities we see today and thrive in the face of uncertainties and disruption.

The lines have never been more blurred in the various conceptual prisms through which we view the world. Since the unipolar world of the 1990s, several centres of political and economic powers have emerged.

In addition to the United States, we now have China, Russia, the European Union, the United Kingdom, India and Brazil as dominant regional powers.

Sometime in 2018 in South Africa, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina and I had discussions on how to leverage technology and industry for jobs for young people. He told me at the time that the AfDB was already thinking along the lines of committing some funding to some iteration of the idea. After nearly 5 years of work with some of the most patriotic Africans, African institutions and several in the local technology and entertainment ecosystem, we arrive at the launch of the I-DICE programme, the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises Programme.

Holding political office is more of an opportunity to serve and positively impact the lives of millions of people, rather than the prestige that comes with the position. In our constitutional democracy, the effectiveness of number 2, the VP depends a great deal on the trust reposed in him by the President.

I am more fortunate than others in my relationship with my principal President @MBuhari.

The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone Programme is a major cross-cutting value chain investment effort driven by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in alignment with the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy of the FG. SAPZ is specifically designed to develop multiple clusters of Agricultural Transformation Centres (ATCs) and Agro-Industrial Hubs (AIHs) within major clusters of high agricultural production where functional infrastructure like roads, power, water, communication are provided...

Today, we are attending the annual ministerial retreat and in reflecting on the journey so far; I shared some of the game changing achievements of the Federal Government and some of the areas of concern in the economy. The first is the synergy between fiscal and monetary policy. The failure of that synergy has led to unnecessary drawbacks in our economic performance & planning. What imports are eligible for foreign exchange must agree with the fiscal ambitions for manufacturing and industry.

While working as a United Nations Justice sector expert in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1994, I recall that the failure of the country at the time was because the elites had failed to respond to the needs of their society. At that time, there was hardly any food and everyone got on a queue to get food from the World Food Programme. On the queues were former journalists, professors, former public servants and former supreme court justices.

It was truly a pleasure to meet with Vice-President Kamala Harris to discuss Nigeria's #EnergyTransition Plan and other interests between our Governments. The United States has been a long-standing partner of ours and has since our independence consistently supported Nigeria’s aspirations for economic and social development.

Nigeria's plans & commitments to carbon neutrality must include clear plans on energy access if we are to confront poverty. Both the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine have had severely damaging effects on decades worth of gains made in the energy sector. The inflationary pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic & other macroeconomic trends have been further exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Countries worldwide have been hit by record prices on all forms of energy.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration is set to further explore the Blue Economy. The Blue Economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems. It entails emerging renewable energy, seabed extractive activities, marine biotechnology and bio-prospecting.

Global energy transition must be inclusive, equitable and just, taking into account the different realities of various economies and accommodating various pathways to net-zero emissions by 2050. This is important for two reasons: First, the Paris Agreement which highlights the role just energy transition plays in sustainable development, and second, an ongoing ban pushed by wealthy nations and institutions on public investment in fossils including natural gas.

Today, I am delighted to announce some initiatives that the Nigerian government will be embarking on with the Microsoft Corporation over the next few months. These initiatives, which cover areas of intersection between technology and governance will deliver value to our people. This is the outcome of the discussions I held in January 2021 with the Microsoft Corporation President, Mr. Brad Smith.

To ensure agricultural transformation in Nigeria, we have developed the following initiatives: The Economic Sustainability Plan, The National Livestock Transformation Plan, and The Green Imperative Project among others. Last year, we launched the Agriculture for Food and Jobs Plan (AFJP) @FmardPace under the Economic Sustainability Plan, in a bid to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Employing over 34,000 young graduates, we were able to register about 6 million small-holder farmers.

President @MBuhari's administration is proud to launch the Solar Power Naija Programme which kicked off in Jigawa state and plans to deliver electricity to 25 Million Nigerians whose communities have been off the grid. Under our Econonic Sustainability Plan, this power solution programme was designed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) with the aim of powering 5 Million households through a N140 Billion financing programme for private developers.

I had the honour of celebrating, Mr. Alex U. Ibru, founder of the Guardian Newspaper, at the public presentation of the book, “The Making of the Nigerian Flagship: A Story of the Guardian" Nigeria’s history as a country is deeply intertwined with that of its press, dating back to a time before Nigeria itself became a nation. From Nnamdi Azikiwe to Herbert Macaulay, several political luminaries were also leading figures of the press.

Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, is known for her forthright views - crisp, truthful and every once in a while, controversial. Over the years, she has touched and highlighted salient points in conversations exploring issues that concern Nigerians such as: Good governance, Security, Welfare, Quality education, Army pensions, Drug abuse as well as the violation and victimization of women.

Our dear city of Owerri had its peace and tranquillity shattered by heavily armed hoodlums who blasted open the doors of the correctional facility, facilitating the escape of well over 1,000 inmates; many of whom were dangerous criminals. They also attacked the police headquarters at “Shell Camp” burning several vehicles and even attempting to overtake the police armoury, if not for the effective resistance of the police.