Lifestyle

Tinubu @72: Nigeria is in Good Hands – Abiodun

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By Abimbola Bamgbose

Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a democrat and visionary leader who is passionately committed to the emergence of Nigeria as an economic powerhouse.

Prince Abiodun, in a congratulatory message to the President on his 72nd birthday on 29 March, said Tinubu is the right man to lead the country during this period of economic crisis among other issues bedevilling the nation.

The governor noted that since he assumed office on 29 May, President Tinubu has demonstrated astuteness, resilience, and a deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of the people.

He said the president is worth celebrating because of his commitment to nation-building, adding that he has devoted his whole life to serving humanity.

He said: “I would like to extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of his 72nd birthday. This milestone is not only a celebration of a remarkable life well-lived but also an opportunity to acknowledge the president’s exceptional contributions to the growth and development of our great nation, Nigeria.

“President Tinubu has undeniably proven himself as a formidable politician, a visionary leader, and a champion of democracy. His unwavering commitment to the principles of democracy and good governance has left an indelible mark on our nation’s political landscape.”

According to Prince Abiodun, President Tinubu’s leadership style has been instrumental in raising the hopes of Nigerians for a better future.

“As we commemorate this special day, we recognize your unwavering commitment to the betterment of our society, your relentless pursuit of justice, and your passion for empowering the people.” 

“On this auspicious occasion, I join millions of Nigerians in wishing our President good health, happiness, and continued success in his quest to bequeath to Nigerians, a country of our dreams,” the governor added.

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Politics

Tinubu, a visionary leader committed to Nigeria’s economic revitalisation – Senator Alli

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By Oluwakayode Banjo

Senator Sharafadeen Alli of the All Progressives Congress, APC, representing the Oyo South Senatorial District, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to national development as he clocks 72.

This is contained in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Friday in Ibadan.

“Today marks a special day in the life of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, a visionary leader dedicated to steering the nation’s economy back on track,” he said.

Senator Alli urged Nigerians to rally behind the administration’s efforts to build a more inclusive and prosperous society.

He said the president had tirelessly implemented policies aimed at revitalizing the country’s economy since assumption of office, and his unwavering efforts are beginning to yield positive results.

“As we celebrate President Tinubu’s birthday, it is essential for Nigerians to persevere, remain steadfast in their prayers, cooperate with the government, and maintain hope in the administration’s ability to bring about positive change,” he said.

He said through unity, resilience, and collective efforts, the nation can overcome its current challenges as well as emerge stronger and more prosperous. 

Senator Alli noted that together, with faith, perseverance, and cooperation, Nigerians can contribute to the collective vision of a better Nigeria under President Tinubu’s leadership.

“As we reflect on President Tinubu’s birthday, let us draw inspiration from his resilience and determination to overcome challenges and lead the nation towards a brighter future,” he said.

Senator Alli extended heartfelt birthday wishes to the president, acknowledging his dedication and service to the nation. 

He prayed that the president’s leadership would continue to inspire and guide Nigerians towards a prosperous and harmonious future.

The lawmaker prayed that Almighty Allah grant him long life, sound health and abundant grace to build the nation of their dream.

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Education

FG to Establish Skills, Vocational Hubs at Polytechnics

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By Abdullahi Jalaluddeen, Kano

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says his administration has concluded all the necessary arrangement for the establishment of 24 Skills and Vocational hubs in polytechnics across the country.

The president stated this during the 38th convocation of Bayero University Kano.

The president who was represented by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, said the federal government would establish entrepreneurship centres in the universities across the country.

“We are also reviving 970 Tsangaya centres for integrated learning and development of Almajiri education system in the country.”

“We are also building 91 vocational schools in the secondary schools across the country to ensure that all levels of education enjoying the impact of our policy,” he said.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, (BUK), Professor Sagir Abbas, says the Institution is now ranked as the 5th best university in Nigeria.

“Over the last two years, for example, the university has made a number of giant strides. Bayero University, Kano, emerged the 4th Best University in Nigeria in the February 2023 ranking of universities released by Times Higher Education (THE).”

“I am delighted also to inform you that in the latest 2024 World University Assessment by the Times Higher Education of United Kingdom, BUK, was ranked the 5th Best University in Nigeria, trailing Covenant University, the University of Ibadan, the University of Lagos and Federal University of Technology, Akure as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively.”

“In addition to emerging 5th best university in Nigeria, BUK is also the Best University in the North-West, North-East, South-East and South-South zones.”

“Bayero University was ranked the second best university in Nigeria in terms of international outlook, coming after Covenant University”.

“We will not relent in our determination to improve the visibility of the university on the global scene by consistently being visible on the university website as well as publish research work in reputable journals and engage in more collaboration with individuals and industries at the international level,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor said the staggered convocation began on Tuesday, and that during the first three days, the institution awarded Bachelor’s degrees to 11,284 qualified candidates from 18 Faculties and the School of Continuing Education.

“Bayero University is a globally top-ranked university with commitment to education, research and community services. Over the last couple of years, the university has been pursuing the following vision plan, he said.

Professor Sagir added that the University’s Management and the Senate were working tirelessly to attain the anticipated objectives.

The ceremony which was held at the institution’s Convocation Arena located on Gwarzo Road, Kano, also featured the award of higher degrees, first degrees, honorary degrees, diplomas and prizes to deserving personalities.

The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and the President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adeshina, were awarded with Honorary Doctorate degrees at the ceremony.

Politics

President Tinubu Promises New Living Wage, Reliable Power Supply

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President Bola Tinubu on Monday delivered his first New Year’s Day speech since he assumed office in May 2023.

Here is the full text of the address.

Dear Compatriots,

It gives me immense joy to welcome each and everyone of you – young and old- to this brand new year 2024. We must lift up our hands to Almighty God, in gratitude, for his grace and benevolence to our country and our lives in the year 2023 that has just gone by.

Though the past year was a very challenging one, it was eventful in so many ways. For our country, it was a transition year that saw a peaceful, orderly and successful transfer of power from one administration to another, marking yet another remarkable step in our 24 years of unbroken democracy.

It was a year, you the gracious people of this blessed nation, entrusted your faith in me with a clear mandate to make our country better, to revamp our economy, restore security within our borders, revitalise our floundering industrial sector, boost agricultural production, increase national productivity and set our country on an irreversible path towards national greatness that we and future generations will forever be proud of.

The task of building a better nation and making sure we have a Nigeria society that cares for all her citizens is the reason I ran to become your President. It was the core of my Renewed Hope campaign message on the basis of which you voted me as President.
Everything I have done in office, every decision I have taken and every trip I have undertaken outside the shores of our land, since I assumed office on 29 May 2023, have been done in the best interest of our country.

Over the past seven months of our administration, I have taken some difficult and yet necessary decisions to save our country from fiscal catastrophe. One of those decisions was the removal of fuel subsidy which had become an unsustainable financial burden on our country for more than four decades. Another was the removal of the chokehold of few people on our foreign exchange system that benefited only the rich and the most powerful among us. Without doubt, these two decisions brought some discomfort to individuals, families and businesses.
I am well aware that for some time now the conversations and debates have centred on the rising cost of living, high inflation which is now above 28% and the unacceptable high under-employment rate.

From the boardrooms at Broad Street in Lagos to the main-streets of Kano and Nembe Creeks in Bayelsa, I hear the groans of Nigerians who work hard every day to provide for themselves and their families.

I am not oblivious to the expressed and sometimes unexpressed frustrations of my fellow citizens. I know for a fact that some of our compatriots are even asking if this is how our administration wants to renew their hope.

Dear Compatriots, take this from me: the time may be rough and tough, however, our spirit must remain unbowed because tough times never last. We are made for this period, never to flinch, never to falter. The socio-economic challenges of today should energize and rekindle our love and faith in the promise of Nigeria. Our current circumstances should make us resolve to work better for the good of our beloved nation. Our situation should make us resolve that this new year 2024, each and everyone of us will commit to be better citizens.

Silently, we have worked to free captives from abductors. While we can’t beat our chest yet that we had solved all the security problems, we are working hard to ensure that we all have peace of mind in our homes, places of work and on the roads.

Having laid the groundwork of our economic recovery plans within the last seven months of 2023, we are now poised to accelerate the pace of our service delivery across sectors.

Just this past December during COP28 in Dubai, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and I agreed and committed to a new deal to speed up the delivery of the Siemens Energy power project that will ultimately deliver reliable supply of electricity to our homes and businesses under the Presidential Power Initiative which began in 2018.

Other power installation projects to strengthen the reliability of our transmission lines and optimise the integrity of our National grid are ongoing across the country.

My administration recognises that no meaningful economic transformation can happen without steady electricity supply. In 2024, we are moving a step further in our quest to restart local refining of petroleum products with Port Harcourt Refinery, and the Dangote Refinery which shall fully come on stream.

To ensure constant food supply, security and affordability, we will step up our plan to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmlands across the country to grow maize, rice, wheat, millet and other staple crops. We launched the dry season farming with 120,000 hectares of land in Jigawa State last November under our National Wheat Development Programme.

In this new year, we will race against time to ensure all the fiscal and tax policies reforms we need to put in place are codified and simplified to ensure the business environment does not destroy value. On every foreign trip I have embarked on, my message to investors and other business people has been the same. Nigeria is ready and open for business.

I will fight every obstacle that impedes business competitiveness in Nigeria and I will not hesitate to remove any clog hindering our path to making Nigeria a destination of choice for local and foreign investments.

In my 2024 Budget presentation to the National Assembly, I listed my administration’s 8 priority areas to include national defence and internal security, job creation, macro-economic stability, investment environment optimization, human capital development, poverty reduction and social security. Because we take our development agenda very seriously, our 2024 budget reflects the premium we placed on achieving our governance objectives.

We will work diligently to make sure every Nigerian feels the impact of their government. The economic aspirations and the material well-being of the poor, the most vulnerable and the working people shall not be neglected. It is in this spirit that we are going to implement a new national living wage for our industrious workers this new year. It is not only good economics to do this, it is also a morally and politically correct thing to do.

I took an oath to serve this country and give my best at all times. Like I said in the past, no excuse for poor performance from any of my appointees will be good enough.
It is the reason I put in place a Policy Coordination, Evaluation, Monitoring and Delivery Unit in the Presidency to make sure that governance output improves the living condition of our people.

We have set the parameters for evaluation. Within the first quarter of this new year, Ministers and Heads of Agencies with a future in this administration that I lead will continue to show themselves.

Fellow Nigerians, my major ambition in government as a Senator in the aborted Third Republic, as Governor of Lagos State for eight years and now as the President of this blessed country is to build a fair and equitable society and close the widening inequality. While I believe the rich should enjoy their legitimately-earned wealth, our minimum bargain must be that, any Nigerian that works hard and diligent enough will have a chance to get ahead in life. I must add that because God didn’t create us with equal talents and strengths, I can not guarantee that we will have equal outcomes when we work hard. But my government, in this new year 2024 and beyond, will work to give every Nigerian equal opportunity to strive and to thrive.
For the new year to yield all its good benefits to us as individuals and collectively as a people we must be prepared to play our part. The job of building a prosperous nation is not the job of the President, Governors, Ministers, Lawmakers and government officials alone. Our destinies are connected as members of this household of Nigeria. Our language, creed, ethnicity and religious beliefs even when they are not same should never make us work at cross purposes.

In this new year, let us resolve that as joint-heirs to the Nigerian Commonwealth, we will work for the peace, progress and stability of our country. I extend this call to my political opponents in the last election. Election is over. It’s time for all of us to work together for the sake of our country.
We must let the light each of us carries – men and women, young and old – shine bright and brighter to illuminate our path to a glorious dawn.

I wish all of us a happy and prosperous year 2024.

May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

ChannelsTv / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Economy

Cardoso, Son of the 1st AG of the Federation

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By Olaitan Oye-Adeitan

His may not have been a name that rings a bell in the Nation though he had held and occupied high ranking positions, making indelible impacts.

But on Friday, 15th September, 2023, he came into lime light, upon his nomination by President Bola Ahmed-Tinubu as Governor of the  Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the nation’s monetary regulator.

He is none other than Olayemi Michael Cardoso. 

Interestingly, his father, Felix Bankole Cardoso made history fifty years ago when he became the Nigeria’s first indigenous Accountant General of the Federation precisely in 1963.

What is Cardoso pedigree?

Olayemi Cardoso earned his Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc.) in Managerial and Administrative Studies from Aston University in 1980.

He furthered his education at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (HKS) and graduated as a Mason Fellow with a Master’s degree in Public Administration in 2005.

In recognition of his exceptional contributions to both the private and public sectors, Aston University honoured Cardoso with an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) in 2017.

He is also distinguished as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers.

Prior to his nomination, Dr Cardoso was the former chairman of Citibank Nigeria. 

He is a distinguished leader in the financial and development sectors with over  thirty years’ experience in the private, public and not-for-profit organisations.

With diverse corporate governance experience, Dr Cardoso had also sat on the boards of Nigerian subsidiaries of Texaco and Chevron and chaired the board of EFInA, a financial sector development organisation supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.

Cardoso equally served in government as the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget for Lagos State, where he championed the financial reform process which led to the state’s development of independent tax revenue.

In his capacity as a consultant and policy expert, Dr Cardoso has advised and collaborated with major international development organisations including the World Bank, Ford Foundation, UN Habitat, World Health Organisation and the Swedish Development Foundation.

He is the recipient of several awards including an honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration from Aston University, his alma mater, and the Global Distinguished Alumni Award from Citi.

Achievement

His commitment to lifelong learning has been acknowledged by various educational institutions, including:

  • Trustee of the Harvard Club of Nigeria from 2022 to the present.
  • Trustee of the Harvard Kennedy School Nigeria Alumni from 2020 to the present.
  • Board advisor at the Lagos Business School since 2019.
  • Trustee of St. Augustine University since 2018.
  • Global Alumni-elected Board member of Harvard Kennedy School from 2006 to 2010.
Politics

Full text of Inaugural Address by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

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INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU (MAY 29, 2023)

My Fellow Citizens,

I stand before you honoured to assume the sacred mandate you have given me. My love for this nation is abiding. My confidence in its people, unwavering.

And my faith in God Almighty, absolute. I know that His hand shall provide the needed moral strength and clarity of purpose in those instances when we seem to have reached the limits of our human capacity.

This day is bold and majestic yet bright and full of spirit, as is our precious nation.

As a nation, we have long ago decided to march beyond the dimness of night into the open day of renewed national hope.

The question we now ask ourselves is whether to remain faithful to the work inherent in building a better society or retreat into the shadows of our unmet potential.

For me, there is but one answer. We are too great a nation and too grounded as a people to rob ourselves of our finest destiny.

This nation’s journey has been shaped by the prayers of millions, and the collective sacrifices of us all.

We have endured hardships that would have made other societies crumble.

Yet, we have shouldered the heavy burden to arrive at this SUBLIME moment where the prospect of a better future merges with our improved capacity to create that future.

To the surprise of many but not to ourselves, we have more firmly established this land as a democracy in both word and deed.

The peaceful transition from one government to another is now our political tradition. This handover symbolizes our trust in God, our enduring faith in representative governance, and our belief in our ability to reshape this nation into the society it was always meant to be.

Here, permit me to say a few words to my predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr. President, you have been an honest, patriotic leader who has done his best for the nation you love. On a more personal note, you are a worthy partner and friend. May History be kind to you.

For many years, Nigeria’s critics have trafficked the rumour that our nation will break apart, even perish.

Yet here we are. We have stumbled at times, but our resilience and diversity have kept us going.

Our burdens may make us bend at times, but they shall never break us. Instead, we stand forth as Africa’s most populous nation and as the best hope and strongest champion of the Black Race.

As citizens, we declare as one unified people devoted to one unified national cause, that as long as this world exists, NIGERIA SHALL EXIST.

Today, Fate and Destiny join together to place the torch of human progress in our very hands. We dare not let it slip.

We lift high this torch so that it might shine on every household and in every heart that calls itself Nigerian. We hold this beam aloft because it lights our path with compassion, brotherhood, and peace. May this great light never EXTINGUISH.

Our administration shall govern on your behalf but never rule over you. We shall consult and dialogue but never dictate. We shall reach out to all but never put down a single person for holding views contrary to our own.

We are here to further mend and heal this nation, not tear and injure it.

In this vein, may I offer a few comments regarding the election that brought us to this juncture? It was a hard-fought contest. And it was also fairly won. Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, Nigeria has not held an election of better quality.

The outcome reflected the will of the people. However, my victory does not render me any more Nigerian than my opponents. Nor does it render them any less patriotic.

They shall forever be my fellow compatriots. And I will treat them as such. They represent important constituencies and concerns that wisdom dare not ignore.

They have taken their concerns to court. Seeking legal redress is their right and I fully defend their exercise of this right. This is the essence of the rule of law.

Over six decades ago, our founding fathers gave bravely of themselves to place Nigeria on the map as an independent nation.

We must never allow the labor of those who came before us to wither in vain but to blossom and bring forth a better reality.

Let us take the next great step in the journey they began and believed in.

Today, let us recommit our very selves to placing Nigeria in our hearts as the indispensable home for each and every one of us regardless of creed, ethnicity, or place of birth.

My supporters, I thank you. To those who voted otherwise, I extend my hand across the political divide. I ask you to grasp it in national affinity and brotherhood. For me, political coloration has faded away. All I see are Nigerians.

May we uphold these fitting and excellent notions as the new Nigerian ideal.

My fellow compatriots,

The Nigerian ideal which I speak of is more than just an improvement in economics and other statistics. These things are important, but they can never convey the fullness of our story.

Our mission is to improve our way of life in a manner that nurtures our humanity, encourages compassion toward one another, and duly rewards our collective effort to resolve the social ills that seek to divide us.

Our constitution and laws give us a nation on paper. We must work harder at bringing these noble documents to life by strengthening the bonds of economic collaboration, social cohesion, and cultural understanding. Let us develop a shared sense of fairness and equity.

The South must not only seek good for itself but must understand that its interests are served when good comes to the North. The North must see the South likewise.

Whether from the winding creeks of the Niger Delta, the vastness of the northern savannah, the boardrooms of Lagos, the bustling capital of Abuja, or the busy markets of Onitsha, you are all my people. As your president, I shall serve with prejudice toward none but compassion and amity towards all.

In the coming days and weeks, my team will publicly detail key aspects of our programme. Today, permit me to outline in broad terms a few initiatives that define our concept of progressive good governance in furtherance of the Nigerian ideal:

The principles that will guide our administration are simple:

  1. Nigeria will be impartially governed according to the constitution and the rule of law.
  2. We shall defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten the peace and stability of our country and our sub-region.
  3. We shall remodel our economy to bring about growth and development through job creation, food security, and an end to extreme poverty.
  4. In our administration, Women and youth will feature prominently.
  5. Our government will continue to take proactive steps such as championing a credit culture to discourage corruption while strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the various anti-corruption agencies.

SECURITY

Security shall be the top priority of our administration because neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence.

To effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security DOCTRINE and its ARCHITECTURE.

We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number. We shall provide better training, equipment, pay, and firepower.

THE ECONOMY

On the economy, we target higher GDP growth and significantly reduce unemployment.

We intend to accomplish this by taking the following steps:

First, budgetary reform stimulating the economy without engendering inflation will be instituted.

Second, industrial policy will utilize the full range of fiscal measures to promote domestic manufacturing and lessen import dependency.

Third, electricity will become more accessible and affordable to businesses and homes alike. Power generation should nearly double and transmission and distribution networks improved. We will encourage states to develop local sources as well.

I have a message for our investors, local and foreign: our government shall review all their complaints about multiple taxation and various anti-investment inhibitions.

We shall ensure that investors and foreign businesses repatriate their hard-earned dividends and profits home.

JOBS

My administration must create meaningful opportunities for our youth. We shall honour our campaign commitment of one million new jobs in the digital economy.

Our government also shall work with the National Assembly to fashion an omnibus Jobs and Prosperity bill. This bill will give our administration the policy space to embark on labor-intensive infrastructural improvements, encourage light industry, and provide improved social services for the poor, elderly, and vulnerable.

AGRICULTURE

Rural incomes shall be secured by commodity exchange boards guaranteeing minimal prices for certain crops and animal products. A nationwide programme for storage and other facilities to reduce spoilage and waste will be undertaken.

Agricultural hubs will be created throughout the nation to increase production and engage in value-added processing. The livestock sector will be introduced to the best modern practices and steps taken to minimize the perennial conflict over land and water resources in this sector.

Through these actions, food shall be made more abundant yet less costly. Farmers shall earn more while the average Nigerian pays less.

INFRASTRUCTURE

We shall continue the efforts of the Buhari administration on infrastructure. Progress toward national networks of roads, rail, and ports shall get priority attention.

FUEL SUBSIDY

We commend the decision of the outgoing administration in phasing out the petrol subsidy regime which has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor. Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care, and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.

MONETARY POLICY

Monetary policy needs a thorough housecleaning. The Central Bank must work towards a unified exchange rate. This will direct funds away from arbitrage into meaningful investment in the plant, equipment, and jobs that power the real economy.

Interest rates need to be reduced to increase investment and consumer purchasing in ways that sustain the economy at a higher level.

Whatever merits it had in concept, the currency swap was too harshly applied by the CBN given the number of unbanked Nigerians. The policy shall be reviewed. In the meantime, my administration will treat both currencies as legal tender.

FOREIGN POLICY

Given the world in which we reside, please permit a few comments regarding foreign policy.

The crisis in Sudan and the turn from democracy by several nations in our immediate neighborhood are of pressing concern.

As such, my primary foreign policy objective must be the peace and stability of the West African sub-region and the African continent. We shall work with ECOWAS, the AU, and willing partners in the international community to end extant conflicts and resolve new ones.

As we contain threats to peace, we shall also retool our foreign policy to more actively lead the regional and continental quest for collective prosperity.

Conclusion

This is the proudest day of my life. But this day does not belong to me. It belongs to you, the people of Nigeria.

On this day, Nigeria affirms its rightful place among the world’s great democracies. There, Nigeria shall reside forever.

The course of our past and the promise of the future have brought us to this exceptional moment.

In this spirit, I ask you to join me in making Nigeria a more perfect nation and democracy such that the Nigerian ideal becomes and forever remains the Nigerian reality.

With full confidence in our ability, I declare that these things are within our proximate reach because my name is Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and I am the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

May God bless you and May He bless our beloved land.

Culled/Vanguard/Maxwell Oyekunle

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