Presidency Retracts Statement Claiming Tinubu Is First African Leader To Ring NASDAQ Closing Bell 

The Nigerian Presidency’s Media and Publicity team has issued a corrigendum acknowledging that President Bola Tinubu is not the first  African leader to ring the closing bell at the NASDAQ stock exchange, contrary to an earlier statement.

This follows a September 21 statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, which claimed that his principal, is the first African leader to have rung the closing bell at NASDAQ.

On September 21, 2011, in New York City’s Times Square, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania participated in the closing ceremony at NASDAQ, symbolising his support for Global Health Commitments related to Women’s Health and Women’s Cancers.

This event took place in the presence of First Ladies, Health Ministers, and prominent figures in the field of Global Health.

President Tinubu, on September 20, had concluded the trading session at NASDAQ, by also participating in the closing bell ceremony.

But the official press statement signed by Ngelale was titled “President Tinubu Becomes First Ever African Leader To Ring Closing Bell At NASDAQ; Woos Large Scale Investment At The Nigeria-U.S Executive Business Roundtable.”

Ngelale’s statement attracted reactions across traditional and social media, with the ARISE News Channel airing Kikwete’s video, as well as those of other Nigerians that have rung the bell at either NASDAQ or the New York Stock Exchange. 

Following this, the Presidency retracted the statement, clarifying that it was misled.

It read, “We inadvertently referred to President Bola Tinubu as the first African leader to ring the bell at NASDAQ on Wednesday in New York, based on the information provided by a third-party event organiser.

“This error is sincerely regretted.”

Frances Ibiefo

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