Senator John Azuta-Mbata emerges new Ohaneze President-General - ITREALMS

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Prominent Igbo socio-cultural organisation the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has elected Senator John Azuta-Mbata as uts 13th President-General, reports ITREALMS.

Information reaching ITREALMS news desk today, Friday, reliably informed that Azuta-Mbata emerged during the election of new executives in the coal city capital, Enugu, Enugu State, as the new leader, succeeding Fidelis Chukwu, whose tenure was interim.

Three Scores and Many Trophies: Mele Kolo Kyari @60 by Nnanke Harry Willie - ITREALMS

As the golden rays of his 60th birthday dawned, Mele Kolo Kyari is standing tall on a constellation of stellar achievements. He hit the Biblical three scores on a bull’s eye with news of long dead, abiku refineries becoming ‘born again’.

Kyari’s story is a testament to the power of humble beginnings, relentless ambition, and a vision larger than life. Dubbed the “architect of modern Nigerian oil and gas,” Kyari has etched his name into history with achievements that not many in his shoes have been able to rival, transforming Nigeria’s oil and gas industry with an unrivaled blend of savvy, grit, and visionary leadership.

 

The Roots of Resilience

Born into modest circumstances in the dusty streets of Maiduguri, Borno State, Kyari’s story mirrors and encapsulates the true Nigerian spirit: an upbringing defined by resilience, a thirst for education, and an unyielding determination to chart a better course. A graduate of Geology from the University of Maiduguri, Kyari quickly proved himself as a rising star in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, bringing a sturdy confidence and an unassuming brilliance to the table.

 

Climbing the Petroleum Pyramid

Kyari’s ascent in the petroleum industry was meteoric. Joining the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in 1991, he demonstrated an uncanny ability to navigate complex systems while fostering innovation and derring-do. His tenure as Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division, saw him spearhead Nigeria’s transparency initiatives in the global oil market, earning respect on both local and international fronts.

By 2019, his relentless dedication earned him the mantle of Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the rebranded NNPC Limited - a historic transformation he personally championed. It was a role that demanded not just technical acumen but also political dexterity, strategic foresight, and the ability to unite disparate interests under a common vision.

Staying Power in the Eye of the Storm

Few leaders have weathered the storms that Mele Kyari has faced. From navigating volatile global oil markets and surviving two presidencies to shepherding NNPC through an era of unprecedented reforms, Kyari has shown a resilience that defies conventional leadership paradigms. His staying power is rooted in a deep understanding of the sector, a commitment to accountability, and an unwavering focus on national interest. Clearly, here is a man whose Chi whispered ‘yea’ but he decided to bellow the ‘yea’ many decibels higher.

Breathing Life into Nigeria’s Refineries

Undoubtedly, Kyari’s crowning achievement has been the revival of Nigeria’s decade’s long moribund refineries. Under his leadership, long-stalled production activities at the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries have roared back to life… with the Kaduna Refinery beckoning. This audacious manouvre has put a lie on the long-held belief that the refineries would never come back to life. This move would surely engender energy security and ensure that Nigeria’s refining capacity could finally begin to meet domestic demand with much more for exports sooner rather than later.

 

Championing competition through Private Refining

Recognizing that public refineries alone cannot meet the nation’s needs, Kyari forged groundbreaking collaborations with private refineries. The crown jewel of this effort was the integration of the Dangote Refinery - a strategic partnership (This started with a direct investment in Dangote Refinery) that not only expanded Nigeria’s refining capabilities but also introduced healthy competition into a previously monopolized industry. 

Kyari’s forward-thinking approach has set the stage for a more dynamic and self-reliant energy sector.

A Legacy of Success

Recognising the shark-infested terrain of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, Kyari’s leadership has phenomenal and is a study in transformational savvy. While some may wish to attribute some of NNPC’s challenges and failures to him, the discerning would rather give him his flowers for his ability to achieve results despite the tortuous and oppressive terrain.

 

From overseeing the commercialization of NNPC to fostering partnerships that would ultimately bring renewed investor confidence, he has consistently delivered results. His commitment to opening up NNPC Limited for more transparency, epitomized by Nigeria’s compliance with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), has set a new benchmark for governance in the oil and gas sector.

The Road Ahead

As he celebrates his 60th birthday, Kyari must remain focused on the future. With plans to expand Nigeria’s gas infrastructure and deepen the shift towards a cleaner energy mix, his vision aligns seamlessly with global energy transition goals. His leadership in the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG) reflects his commitment to reducing Nigeria’s carbon footprint while providing affordable energy alternatives for the populace.

 

Epilogue: The Man, the Vision, the Legacy

Mele Kyari’s journey is far from over. At 60, Kyari stands not just as a titan of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry but as a symbol of what is possible when ambition meets opportunity. His story is a clarion call to dreamers, a beacon of hope to reformers, and an enduring legacy for a nation poised on the brink of transformation. Indeed, Kyari has achieved three scores and many trophies…and the best, it seems, is yet to come.

Happy Birthday,  Mele Kolo Kyari!

Nnanke Harry Willie is a Brand Consultant, Publisher of BRANDECONOMY and a member of Guild of Corporate online Publishers (GOCOP)

Portugal football club signs on 19-year-old Nigerian- born Footballer, Yaqub Usman-Malah' - ITREALMS

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The Brito Sporting Club of Portugal, a football club founded in 1956, has signed an official contract with a United Kingdom-based highly-talented, young Nigeria-born footballer, Yaqub Usman-Malah, reports ITREALMS.

The official unveiling of the young promising footballer was carried out on Saturday, January 4, 2025
Yaqub, born in Nigeria in 2006, is a budding Nigerian talent with unquantifiable promise and potential.

Future African unveils 10 African winners - ITREALMS

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A total of 10 young African youths have emerged winners at the 2024 Future African Leaders Awards (FALA) Foundation, hosted by the reknowned Christ Embassy, reports ITREALMS.

Disclosing this to ITREALMS, Pastor Sylvester Ebhodaghe said weekend, the winners emerged on the event of the new year, from a programme participated by millions of youths from across the African continent.

Sophos MDR attains 26,000 customer base worldwide - ITREALMS

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A global leader of innovative security solutions for defeating cyberattacks, Sophos, has revealed that its Sophos Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service has reached a major milestone, now protecting more than 26,000 organizations globally, growing its customer base by 37% in 2024.

This achievement highlights the increasing demand for Sophos’ proactive, expert-led security solutions, which help organizations of all sizes stay protected 24/7 against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, including the most advanced ransomware, business email compromise (BEC) and phishing attacks.

Kyari, refineries and a green ribbon by KEN UGBECHIE

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Mele Kyari, a geologist and Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has dug his way into the tunnel of history. Within a space of two months, he announced the successful revamp of two refineries. 

In November 2024, Port Harcourt refinery came on stream. The following month, December, Warri refinery burst back to life. Both are not performing optimally, yet. But the journey has only just begun. Kaduna refinery is projected to begin production later this year. And if all goes well, a substantial percentage of the nation’s local petrol consumption would be sourced in-country. 

CBN Goes Cashless

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Defamation: Why Falana must apologise to Zinox - ITREALMS

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The management of the foremost African digital conglomerate, Zinox Technologies Limited, has demanded a public apology from Mr. Femi Falana SAN over alleged defamation and reputational injury inflicted on the company and its representatives by Falana and his client, Benjamin Joseph, the CEO of Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, an Ibadan-based computer firm.

In a statement on Sunday, Zinox referenced recent news items in the media relating to certain charges filed by Falana, purporting to act on a fiat donated to him by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN, whom Zinox said may not have been properly briefed.