General News
Oil Workers Oppose Sale of Refineries, Says It’s against National Interest
Oil workers under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have said that they would resist federal government’s plan to sale the nation’s refineries.
Diezani Alison-Madueke, Petroleum minister had said two weeks ago that the nation’s four refineries would be put up for sale by the first quarter of next year.
But the two trade unions in the oil sector said their opposition to the sale of the refineries is premised on the fact that it is against national interest and that the country would not benefit from the exercise.
Echoing the stand of the oil workers in Lagos, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, PENGASSAN President, said the sale is only meant to reward government’s cronies.
He said the government deliberately underfunded the refineries and refused to carry out Turn-Around Maintenance (TAM) and supply crude to the refineries so as to have reasons for selling them off to their cronies.
He explained that instead of opting for the outright sale of the refineries, the federal government should adopt a modified process tailored towards the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) model with the National Oil Company (NOC) as owners of the four refineries holding a substantial minority shares, while core investors/local participation holds the working majority with the staff, trade unions, and the host communities holding minority shares.
He advised that government should deal with the problem of vandalism of pipelines that hamper supply of crude oil to the refineries as well as carry out TAM and see if the refineries will work or not.
Comrade Ogun said: “The proposed sale of the refineries is against the overall national interest but in the interest of a few, who are lurking around the corridors of power to milk the country dry. How can a country be selling all its national assets all in the name of privatisation? For whose benefit are such sales?
“If you recall, late President Yar’adua reversed the privatisation of the refineries done by former President Obasanjo, with a promise to carry out Turn-Around Maintenance (TAM) on them to ensure that they are sold not as scrap. On assumption to office, President Goodluck Jonathan also promised to carry out TAM on the refineries.
“Even the controversial Kalu Idika Kalu-led National Refineries Special Task Force also has TAM or rehabilitation of the refineries to make them work in a safe and reliable manner as part of its recommendations. As we are talking now, nothing has been significantly done.
“Why is the government proposing sales of these national edifices without doing the needful to ensure that the refineries work at their optimal capacity? Nigerians and the general public deserve to know more on the desperate reasons for the spate and row of proposed privatisation, even when the selfish motives of these proposed national assets sales can spell doom for the country.”
He also said the refineries should be entities independent of either the current Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or the proposed NOC as in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), while the board of management of each refining company should be fully responsible for its success and failure.
Comrade Ogun said that those that are planning to sell the refineries and their cronies planning to buy them should emulate Alhaji Aliko Dangote and establish their own refineries instead of waiting to corner the nation’s common investment for their selfish interest.
He also stated that instead of privatising the refineries, government should grant effective incentives to allow for the development of private refineries alongside the existing ones, adding that a framework should be articulated that will make available required crude for effective functioning of local refineries.
“There is need to incentivize and/or compel IOCs to refine an agreed percentage of crude oil in the country. A suggestion is to tie upstream licensing to downstream investment and private ownerships of jetties should be encouraged,” he said.
Ogun stated that: “As the privatisation trend continues, the Nigerian public will need to know from the process drivers the number of jobs and investment that have been created as against the reality that some cronies are now being recruited as technical partners to front for the high and mighty as was the case with Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited which the government sold to Indorama for $225 million, a mega plant that is the second largest in Africa which at the time of its sale was worth about $2.5 billion as fair market value.
“Also at the time of the sale, the company was fully stocked and the materials needed for its TAM were being bought by the government. It only required working capital that was persistently blocked by bureaucratic bottleneck and undue government interference that delayed its efficiency.”
General News
GOMYCODE Partners Woolf University to Offer Globally Recognised Master’s Degree in Software Engineering in Nigeria
GOMYCODE, a leading technology education provider, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Woolf University, a global collegiate higher education institution, to offer Master of Science in Computer Science with Specialization in Software Engineering to aspiring and established tech professionals in Nigeria.
This collaboration aims to provide accessible, high-quality, globally recognized education to individuals seeking to advance their careers and expand their opportunities.
The Master’s program is designed to empower busy professionals and ambitious individuals with advanced skills and qualifications, opening doors to global job opportunities and facilitating potential emigration for those seeking international careers.
“We are thrilled to partner with Woolf University to bring this exceptional opportunity to Nigeria,” said Yahya Bouhlel, Co-founder of GOMYCODE. “In today’s competitive tech landscape, advanced degrees are increasingly essential.
“This partnership allows us to provide a flexible, world-class education that empowers our students to achieve their career aspirations, whether they seek to excel locally or on a global stage.”
The program’s online, flexible structure caters to the demands of working professionals, enabling them to balance their studies with existing commitments. Students will benefit from Woolf University’s rigorous academic standards and GOMYCODE’s practical, industry-relevant approach to learning.
“Woolf University is excited to collaborate with GOMYCODE to expand access to quality higher education in Nigeria,” stated Naveen Jangir, Head of Strategy and Growth, from Woolf University. “Our mission is to democratize education, and this partnership aligns perfectly with our goal of providing accessible, accredited degrees to learners worldwide.
“We believe this program will equip Nigerian tech professionals with the skills and credentials they need to thrive in the global economy.”
Babatunde Olaifa, Country Head of GOMYCODE in Nigeria, emphasized the significance of this partnership for the Nigerian tech ecosystem.
“This collaboration represents a significant leap forward for tech education in Nigeria. By offering a globally recognized Master’s degree, we are empowering our professionals to compete on a global scale.
“This is a chance for people to level up their careers, and to open doors that they previously thought were closed.
“We are very excited to see the impact that this program will have on the lives of our students and the broader Nigerian tech community.”
This Master of Science in Computer Science with Specialization in Software Engineering program is ideal for tech professionals seeking to enhance their qualifications; Individuals aiming for global job opportunities; those considering emigration and requiring advanced degrees; ambitious individuals looking to accelerate their career growth.
GOMYCODE and Woolf University are committed to providing a supportive and enriching learning environment that fosters innovation and excellence.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading philanthropy empowering entrepreneurs is set to announce the 11th cohort of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme on Saturday, March 22, 2025.
The 2025 announcement comes at a critical time, as Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem faces funding constraints and global economic headwinds. TEF continues to provide much-needed support, empowering African entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into sustainable businesses and engines of economic growth.
Each selected Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur will receive $5,000 non-refundable seed capital, a world-class business training on TEFConnect, one-on-one mentorship, and access to global networks and investment opportunities. The selection process is being conducted by Ernst & Young, to ensure independent assessment.
The impact of the Tony Elumelu Foundation extends beyond funding. It is changing lives and shaping Africa’s future, as witnessed by beneficiaries of the catalytic TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.
Ahead of the upcoming announcement, Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R., Founder of TEF and Group Chairman of Heirs Holdings, reiterates his unwavering belief in the potential of Africa’s entrepreneurs:
“I believe that Africa’s transformation will not be led by aid, but by empowering the next generation of African entrepreneurs—giving them the tools, the funding, the training, and the networks to build sustainable businesses that create jobs and drive economic growth.
Over the past decade, we have nurtured entrepreneurs from inception to success, scaling our impact across all 54 African countries. We have provided capital and also developed a robust monitoring and evaluation framework that allows us to track the progress of our entrepreneurs and measure their contributions to their communities and economies.
No other organisation is implementing entrepreneurship development at this scale across Africa. We have learned, we have refined, and we continue to improve, ensuring that African entrepreneurs—women and men—are at the forefront of solving our continent’s challenges and creating wealth for themselves and their communities. Entrepreneurship is the key to Africa’s prosperity. I wish the 2025 cohort of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs success, as they chase their ambitions, and play their part in Africa’s transformation.”
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading philanthropy empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalysing job creation across all 54 African countries and ensuring inclusive economic empowerment.
Since the launch of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, TEF has lifted over 2 million Africans out of poverty, provided 2.5 million young Africans with access to training on TEFConnect, and disbursed more than $100millon in direct funding to thousands of African entrepreneurs who have gone on to create over 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs and generate over $4.2 billion in revenue.
Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur Testimonials from Previous Years:
“I started my agribusiness with nothing but an idea. TEF changed everything. With the funding, training, and mentorship, I have now expanded across three countries and employ 25 people.”
– Fatima Diallo, Senegal, Agritech Entrepreneur
“As a woman in the fintech industry, it was difficult to secure funding. TEF not only provided me with capital but also the confidence and skills to build a business that is now attracting international investors.”
– Mary Okeke, Nigeria, Fintech Founder
“The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme helped me commercialise my clean energy innovation. Today, we provide solar solutions to over 50,000 homes in rural Tanzania.”
– Juma Nyerere, Tanzania, Renewable Energy Entrepreneur
For more details on the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s impact visit our Impact Page, African Success Stories Page, and Annual Report Page.
For Media Inquiries: media@tonyelumelufoundation.org
National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) has urged the National Assembly to enact Executive Orders 003 and 005 into law to ensure full compliance by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Executive Order 003, signed by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, mandates MDAs to prioritise local manufacturers and service providers in procurement.
Similarly, Executive Order 005, issued by former President Muhammadu Buhari, directs MDAs to promote science, technology, and innovation in achieving national development goals.
Speaking on the necessity of these Orders, Dr Kazeem Raji, director-general, NBTI emphasised the need for legal backing to enhance enforcement and compliance.
He noted that while Executive Orders remain in effect until revoked or ruled unlawful, transforming them into legislation would strengthen their implementation and enforcement.
Raji stressed that enacting these Orders as laws would drive the adoption of indigenous technology, increase patronage of local innovations, and enhance economic growth.
“If Executive Orders 003 and 005 become laws, capital flight will reduce, foreign reserves will increase, GDP will grow, and employment opportunities will expand. These Orders will no longer be ignored, as there will be legal consequences for non-compliance,” he stated.
He emphasised that institutionalising these policies through legislation would solidify the government’s commitment to boosting local production and supporting homegrown industries.
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