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Coup d’état: Burkina Faso soldiers overthrow country’s leader

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Burkina Faso

Coup d’état: Burkina Faso soldiers overthrow country’s leader

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso’s army captain, Ibrahim Traore, announced Friday night that the army had seized power and ousted military leader Paul Henri Damiba, who himself had taken power in a coup only eight months ago.

Traore said in a statement that a group of officers who helped Damiba seize power in January had decided that the leader was no longer able to secure the country, which has been battling a mounting Islamic insurgency.

 

 

The statement signed by Traore was read on state television late Friday by another military officer.

“Faced with the deteriorating situation, we tried several times to get Damiba to refocus the transition on the security question,” Traore’s statement said.

 

 

 

When Damiba came to power in January, after ousting President Roch Kabore, he had promised to make the country more secure. However, violence in the country has continued, and political tensions have grown in recent months.

Damiba had just returned from addressing the UN General Assembly in New York.

 

 

 

The country’s new military leaders said they were dissolving the national assembly.

They also announced that Burkina Faso’s borders had been closed and that a curfew would be in effect from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

 

 

 

Before Friday evening’s announcement, troops in Burkina Faso had blocked streets in the capital, Ouagadougou, and state TV had stopped broadcasting.

At around 4:30 a.m. Friday, gunfire and a loud explosion were reported in Ouagadougou, in the vicinity of Camp Baba Sy, where Damiba is based. Witnesses said gunfire could also be heard coming from Kosyam, where the presidential palace is located.

 

 

 

A reporter for VOA who went to the capital’s city center Friday found a military blockade on Boulevard Charles de Gaulle. Many military members were wearing face masks and were reluctant to talk, while local police said they had no idea what was happening.

Just after 12 p.m. local time, the president’s office released a statement on Facebook, part of which said, “In view of the confused situation created as a result of a movement of mood by some elements of the national armed forces this Friday … negotiations are underway to bring back calm and serenity.”

 

 

 

The U.S. Embassy warned Americans to limit their movements and stay informed of local media reports.

The events Friday came after rising frustration with the government’s inability to deal with insecurity caused by militant groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State.

 

 

 

On Monday, a convoy carrying food and basic supplies to the northern town of Djibo, which has been under siege by militants for years, was ambushed. Eleven soldiers were killed, and more than 50 civilians were said to be missing.

The incident raised serious concerns about the government, with many citizens expressing their fears and doubts on social media.

 

 

 

Paul Melly, an analyst for Chatham House, a London-based think tank, said, “Burkinabe feel afraid about the continuing spread of jihadist violence.” (Reuters/NAN)

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I Have An Idea For Govt, Families For February 14 -Ajadi

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I Have An Idea For Govt, Families For February 14 -Ajadi

I Have An Idea For Govt, Families For February 14
-Ajadi

It is February 14, and Nigerian politician, entrepreneur and humanist, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo says he has an idea for governments, organisations and couples that would revolutionise society’s cohesion.
He in fact, has thrown a challenge to these quarters, concerning this year’s St Valentin’s Day, how they should celebrate it differently and more impactfully.

 

I Have An Idea For Govt, Families For February 14
-Ajadi

According to him, it should go beyond mere commemorations to heart-felt interventions and legacy projects that improve the wellbeing of people in the society

The entrepreneur-politician said, there could be no better way to join in an event that is synonymous with love, than sinking or implementing projects or programmes that truly touch the lives of the people, changing it for the better.

Sincere affection for the people, he said, should be enough motivation for others holding responsible positions in government, to go beyond tokenism this time but really provide for their people, life-transforming projects and policies.

Even for those who may not have material things to give, Ambassador Ajadi is of the opinion that the season of St Valentine, should motive them to love and care genuinely, shun greed, selfishness, wickedness, materialism bitterness, hate, murder, and the other vices which tend to characterise the society.

It is excellent to see individual lovers sharing cards and gifts at Valentine Day, but how about seeing projects tied to uplifting the people and improving their lifestyles being commissioned and handed over this season as a token of love”, he asked.

Commending organisations and individuals who usually reach out to the underprivileged during St Valentine Day every February 14, Ambassador Ajadi urged them not to relent, as they were fulfilling a great role in society for which they would be rewarded at due time.

“You will agree with me that, if we can imbibe this style of celebration, it will help us to achieve a lot improving the lives of our people, and making the society generally safer.

“It is something that any representative who truly loves his constituency should think about, execute a life impactful project, borne out of genuine love for your constituency that you can deliver during the season of February 14”.

Bemoaning the increasing hardship in the country, he urged Nigerians not to allow them to stop being one another’s keeper.

Ajadi who recently celebrated his marriage anniversary also challenged couples to use Valentina day celebration to renew their relationship.

According to him, families have a lot of roles to play in society even as healthy families will translate to healthy societies and vice versa.

“My admonition to couples is to use this February 14 Valentine’s Day to profess their love afresh to their partners.

“They should remember that they owe each other genuine affection and love, which will also show on their children.

“Let the love professed by St. Valentine on February 14 be seen in their actions towards one another.

“Let couples be there for each come rain, come shine and our society will be better again “.

Bemoaning the rampant cases of ritual killing, kidnapping and murders, he described them also as symptoms of a lack of genuine love in the society

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NIHOTOUR and NUC Forge Groundbreaking Partnership to Elevate Tourism & Hospitality Education in Nigeria

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NIHOTOUR and NUC Forge Groundbreaking Partnership to Elevate Tourism & Hospitality Education in Nigeria

 

Abuja, Nigeria – [14-02-2025] – The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) and the National Universities Commission (NUC) have taken a bold step toward revolutionising tourism and hospitality education in Nigeria. In a high-level meeting between Aare (Dr.) Abisoye Fagade, FIMC, Director-General/CEO of NIHOTOUR, and the Executive Secretary of NUC, both institutions agreed to strategic collaborations that will align university programs with global industry standards.

 

 

The Executive Secretary of NUC strongly supported the initiative, emphasizing the need for standardized training, certification, and industry relevance in Nigeria’s growing tourism sector.

 

Key Areas of Collaboration:

1. Accreditation & Curriculum Development—NIHOTOUR and NUC will collaborate to integrate industry-relevant training standards into university hospitality and tourism programs. A National Benchmark for Hospitality and Tourism Studies will also be developed to align with global best practices.

2. Certification & Licensing of University Graduates – Graduates of tourism and hospitality-related courses will be required to obtain NIHOTOUR’s professional certification before being fully recognized in the industry. A joint certification pathway will be created, allowing university students to earn both an academic degree (NUC-accredited) and an industry-recognized certification (NIHOTOUR).

3. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) & Faculty Training – NIHOTOUR will provide specialised training for lecturers in tourism and hospitality programs, ensuring they are equipped with modern teaching methodologies and industry knowledge.

4. Research & Innovation in Hospitality & Tourism – The collaboration will support joint research projects, conferences, and publications aimed at improving tourism education, skills development, and policy implementation. The NIHOTOUR–NUC Research Grants will fund workforce development, sustainability, and digital transformation studies.

5. Strengthening University-Industry Linkages—Internship and apprenticeship programs will be introduced, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in NIHOTOUR-certified establishments. An industry mentorship program will also be developed to connect students and faculty with seasoned tourism and hospitality professionals.

6. Policy Advocacy & Regulation – NIHOTOUR and NUC will streamline national hospitality and tourism education policies, ensuring compliance with NIHOTOUR’s regulatory mandate. A joint task force will monitor and evaluate education standards across Nigerian universities.

7. Creation of a Tourism & Hospitality Academy University – Both institutions will explore the establishment of a Tourism & Hospitality Academy University to set new benchmarks for excellence in tourism and hospitality education in Nigeria.

 

Speaking after the meeting, Dr. Abisoye Fagade reaffirmed NIHOTOUR’s commitment to raising the standards of tourism and hospitality training in Nigeria.

 

“This collaboration with NUC marks a turning point in how we prepare the next generation of tourism and hospitality professionals. By integrating NIHOTOUR’s industry expertise with university education, we will ensure our graduates are globally competitive, industry-ready, and equipped to drive Nigeria’s tourism sector to greater heights,” he said.

 

The collaboration between NIHOTOUR and NUC signals a new era for tourism and hospitality education in Nigeria, laying a solid foundation for skills development, innovation, and sustainable industry growth.

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NIHOTOUR Strengthens Strategic Partnerships as It Transitions to a Regulatory Body

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NIHOTOUR Strengthens Strategic Partnerships as It Transitions to a Regulatory Body

 

As part of its ongoing transformation from a training institute to a regulatory authority, the Director-General/CEO of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Aare (Dr) Abisoye Fagade, FIMC, has embarked on a series of high-level courtesy visits to key government agencies. These engagements aim to foster collaboration, enhance industry standards, and strengthen NIHOTOUR’s regulatory framework for the hospitality, travel, and tourism sector.

 

So far, Dr. Fagade has met with top officials, including Mr. Ayodele Subair, Executive Chairman of the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS); Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); and Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Discussions focused on strategic partnerships to ensure compliance, professional certification, and improved service delivery within the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry.

 

 

“Our vision is clear—to build a robust, well-regulated travel, hospitality, and tourism sector that meets global standards. This transition requires strong collaboration with key agencies to align our training, certification, and regulatory frameworks with international best practices,” said Dr. Abisoye Fagade.

 

 

With more agencies scheduled for engagement, NIHOTOUR remains committed to promoting excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s travel, hospitality, and tourism industry.

NIHOTOUR Strengthens Strategic Partnerships as It Transitions to a Regulatory Body

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