It has been discovered that President Bola Tinubu was not the first African leader to ring the Nasdaq closing bell.
Recall that a statement by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, on Thursday had referred to that fact.
”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.
”We have since found out that this information was/is incorrect as a former African leader has indeed had the privilege.
”This error is sincerely regretted.”
The statement that was earlier given out said, ”In honour of President Bola Tinubu’s determined global push to aggressively attract foreign direct investment into Nigeria.
”The world’s second largest stock exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System (NASDAQ), on Wednesday in the world’s financial capital, invited President Tinubu to ring the closing bell.
”Making him the first African President to ever receive the honour.”
However, from investigation, it has been confirmed that former President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania rang the Nasdaq closing bell in September 2011.
Recall that on September 20, President Tinubu rang the closing bell of Nasdaq at Times Square in New York as part of the ringing ceremony, which was aimed at attracting investors to promote Nigeria’s economic image on the global stage.
