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GFCA Appoints Nigeria’s Timi Frank As Senior Advisor to Boost Africa-USA City Partnerships

Published

3 months ago

November 26, 2025

Eric

The Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), a US-based international cooperation body, has appointed Nigerian politician and diplomat, Ambassador Timi Frank, as Senior Advisor in a move aimed at strengthening Africa–USA relations through city-to-city diplomacy, youth empowerment and cultural exchange initiatives.

The appointment, announced in San Francisco, California, on November 25, underscores GFCA’s growing commitment to advancing sustainable partnerships between African cities and communities across the United States.

GFCA Executive Director, Jonathan Ginsberg, described Frank as a strategic addition to the organisation’s leadership, citing his political experience, diplomatic exposure and advocacy for accountable governance.

“Ambassador Timi Frank’s experience across African political and diplomatic circles makes him an invaluable addition to GFCA,” Ginsberg said. “His leadership will significantly strengthen our mission to expand Africa–USA friendship city partnerships, empower young people, and create meaningful cross-cultural exchange.”

Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has long been involved in governance advocacy and civic participation.

On the international front, he serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, where he supports global outreach and engagement initiatives.

In his new role, Frank will provide strategic guidance for GFCA’s global partnership development, particularly in building long-term links between African and American cities.

He is also expected to play a key role in expanding programmes in education, culture, innovation, public service and youth leadership.

Reacting to his appointment, Frank said he was honoured to join the organisation at a time when Africa–USA relations are increasingly driven by people-to-people diplomacy.

“I am deeply honored to accept the appointment,” he said.

“Connecting African cities and U.S. communities, and building sustainable bridges across continents, is both a profound responsibility and a privilege.”

He expressed enthusiasm about supporting GFCA’s efforts to expand friendship city partnerships and empowering young people across both regions.

GFCA is an independent, non-profit cultural and educational organisation based in the Bay Area of California.

Its mission is to connect cities, businesses and individuals to promote global cooperation through dialogue, exchange and collaborative development.

With Frank’s appointment, the association says it is positioning itself to accelerate cross-regional collaboration and deepen its footprint in Africa.

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Tinubu Nominates Oyedele As Minister of State for Finance, Moves Anite-Uzoka to Budget Ministry

Published

29 minutes ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, has announced that “President Bola Tinubu has nominated Taiwo Oyedele as the minister of state for finance, replacing Doris Anite-Uzoka.

“Mrs Anite-Uzoka will now move to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, as the Minister of State, her third portfolio in the administration.

“President Tinubu has today conveyed the nomination of Mr Oyedele to the Senate for confirmation in a letter to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

“Until President Tinubu nominated him as a minister, Mr Oyedele from Ikaram, Akoko, Ondo State, was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which overhauled Nigeria’s tax system.

“Mr Oyedele, 50, is an economist, accountant and public policy expert.

“He attended Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in accountancy and finance. He attended Oxford Brookes University and earned a BSc in applied accounting.

“He also completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

“Mr Oyedele spent 22 years of his working career at PwC, joining in 2001 and rising to become the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader.

“Mr Oyedele is also a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.”

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Defection: Atiku’s Son, Adamu, Resigns As Adamawa Commissioner

Published

6 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Adamu Abubakar, the first son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has resigned as Adamawa State’s commissioner for works and energy development, days after Governor Ahmadu Fintiri defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Abubakar’s resignation letter, dated 2 March 2026, was addressed to the governor through the Secretary to the State Government. He gave no reason for his departure.

The timing is pointed. Fintiri announced his defection to the APC in a statewide broadcast last Friday, saying his cabinet and the PDP’s state structure had moved with him. Within 24 hours, 22 commissioners and special advisers publicly announced they were following suit. Abubakar, whose father remains one of the PDP’s most prominent national figures, was not among them.

In a statement issued Monday night, Abubakar’s media aide Abdulaziz Jauro said the former commissioner thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve and pledged continued loyalty to the administration’s developmental agenda. He also expressed gratitude to his father “for granting him the moral support and blessing to serve the people of Adamawa State” — a line that, read in context, suggests Atiku was consulted on the decision.

Abubakar said his resignation was not a withdrawal from public life. “This does not mark the end of his commitment to public service,” the statement read, “but rather the beginning of new avenues for developmental collaboration.”

The resignation leaves unresolved the question of whether it reflects a political break with the governor over his defection or a personal decision unconnected to the broader party realignment now reshaping Adamawa’s political landscape.

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DSS Nabs Man over Assassination Attempt on Peter Obi

Published

8 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has detained a man in connection with the recent attack and alleged assassination threats targeting Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

According to AIT, the shooting incident took place on February 24, 2026, in Benin City, Edo State, during a political gathering attended by Obi and several figures from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The meeting was hosted by former APC National Chairman, John Oyegun. Gunmen reportedly opened fire at the venue, causing panic and forcing attendees to disperse for safety.

According to security sources, shortly after the attack, an individual identified as Udeme Monday Stephen allegedly took to social media claiming responsibility and issuing additional threats against Obi, warning of further violence.

Intelligence officials reportedly initiated swift investigations, employing digital tracing and forensic tools that led to the arrest of the 26-year-old suspect in Rivers State. He is said to be a teacher at a private secondary school in the Eliozu area of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

The suspect remains in DSS custody and is expected to face prosecution. The agency reiterated its commitment to responding to credible threats and safeguarding lives and national interests without bias.