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7 Facts About Rishi Sunak,The UK’s New Prime Minister

Published

2 years ago

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Rishi Sunak

 

Rishi Sunak is the 56th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, taking over from Liz Truss who lasted less than two months in the role. After just missing out in the most recent leadership contest, Sunak received backing from the majority of Conservative MPs, ahead of Penny Mordaunt, the current leader of the House of Commons, who was not able to reach the 100-vote threshold to go forward to the membership vote.
At a time when a large economic crisis looms on the horizon, the former Chancellor will be hoping to utilise his financial nous to steer the country through the upcoming winter.
To help you prepare for the next chapter of British politics, here are facts you might not know about the new Prime Minister.

1. He is the first Prime Minister of South Asian heritage

Rishi Sunak was born in Southampton in 1980 to a family of Punjabi-Indian descent. His parents emigrated to the United Kingdom in the 1960s, where his father became an NHS doctor, and his mother opened a pharmacy.
His new role makes him the first Prime Minister from an ethnic minority and the first practicing Hindu. He first took the Oath of Allegiance on the Bhagavad Gita, the most revered Hindu text.

2. He attended both the University of Oxford and Stanford University

After studying at Winchester College, a public school that ranks among the most prestigious in the world, Sunak went on the read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Lincoln College, Oxford.
Upon completing his studies, he was selected as a Fulbright Scholar at Stanford University in the United States. This marked him as an extremely promising, overseas student and he left the institution with an MBA.

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3. He co-founded an investment banking firm

Prior to becoming involved in politics, Sunak worked as an analyst for the investment banking firm Goldman Sachs between 2001 and 2004. This started a business career that lasted for more than a decade. In 2009 he co-founded a hedge fund firm called Theleme Partners.

4. He is the MP for Richmond (Yorks)

After growing up on the South Coast of England, Rishi was elected Conservative MP for the Richmond constituency in North Yorkshire. He was first elected during the 2015 General Election before being re-elected on two further occasions and securing over 60% of the votes in 2019.
His constituency home is a £1.5 million Grade II listed building in the village of Kirby Sigston. Sunak holds annual garden parties on the property and invites local Conservative Party members.

5. He is known as ‘the richest MP’

Sunak met his wife Akshata Murty while studying at Stanford University. She is the daughter of NR Narayana Murthy, the sixth-richest man in India, and a famous fashion designer in her own right. Together they hold an estimated net worth of £730 million, making them among the richest people in the UK and earning Rishi the unofficial title of ‘the richest MP’.
However, the couple faced criticism in April 2022 when it was revealed that Akshata was using her Indian citizenship to avoid paying taxes in the UK.

6. He is a massive Southampton FC fan

Sunak is known to be a dedicated fan of his hometown football club, Southampton. He has previously held a season ticket and growing up his favourite player was Matt Le Tissier. While he was at school, Sunak once got in trouble for sneaking a portable television into the strict Winchester College so he and his friends could watch England play in Euro 96.

His other hobbies include cricket and watching movies, as well as exercising, which he says he needs to do to combat his past habits of eating a double chocolate muffin and biscuits every day.

7. He once said he never wanted to be Prime Minister

Despite entering two leadership races in the space of six months, Sunak previously stated that he would never want the top job. In 2020, while working alongside Boris Johnson as Chancellor, he answered a question about his potential aspirations to be Prime Minister by saying: ‘God, no. Definitely not, seeing what the Prime Minister has to deal with.’

Culled from: https://www.history.co.uk/articles/little-known-facts-about-rishi-sunak

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Kano State Hosts 8th Annual Audit Forum to Enhance Transparency and Accountability

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10 hours ago

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November 21, 2024

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The 8th Annual Audit Forum, organized by the Office of the Auditor General of Kano State, was held recently, focusing on strengthening transparency and accountability in public financial management. .

Isma’ila Musa, the Auditor General of Kano State, welcomed the participants and highlighted the constitutional and legal mandates that guide the auditing process. “Sections 125(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and 36(i) of the Kano State Audit Law, 2021 (as amended) mandate the Office of the Auditor General to audit the accounts and financial statements of the State Government and all Offices and Courts,” he stated.

Musa expressed immense gratitude to His Excellency, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Governor of Kano State, for his support in making the event possible. “It is very important to note that a strengthened fiscal transparency will help build trust in governance,” he emphasized. He added that the Audit Forum is a reform intended to reduce opportunities for corruption and abuse of public resources, thereby increasing the efficiency of public expenditures.

The Auditor General also acknowledged the contributions of various officials, including the Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Planning and Budget, the Accountant General, the Executive Chairman of Kano Internal Revenue Services, and former Auditors General, among others. “My sincere appreciation to all the invitees here present for honoring our invitation. I wish us a successful 8th Kano State Annual Audit Forum,” Musa concluded.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Honorable Tukur Fagge, praised the exercise for its potential to enhance resource management and ensure the success of the tasks at hand. “This exercise will enhance resources management and will realize the success of the task,” Fagge stated.

Sarkin Shanon Kano, Shehu Muhammad Dankadai, who served as the royal father of the day, also graced the event, adding to the significance of the occasion.

The forum underscored the commitment of the Kano State Government to upholding transparency and accountability, reflecting the administration’s dedication to effective and efficient service delivery.

 

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Breaking: Former Secretary of Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO, Ahmadu Kurfi Passes On at 93

Published

17 hours ago

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November 21, 2024

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Late Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi

 

A former secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission, Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi, has passed away.

A family source, Jafar Yakubu, informed NIGERIAN TRACKER about the death of the pioneer secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission, who supervised the 1979 general election.

 

Jafar Yakubu said Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi died at the age of 93 and his Janaza funeral prayers will take place by 2:30 PM at Kurfi in KATSINA state .

 

Dr. Amadu Kurfi, OFR, was born in 1931. He was a former chairman of the then Marketing Board, former Federal Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence, and the first person to acquire a BSc degree in the whole of Katsina State, at University College London in 1957.

 

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President Tinubu Sacks UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Registrar

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1 day ago

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November 20, 2024

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The governing council of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University has been dissolved by President Bola Tinubu.

The president dissolved the council and approved the removal of the institution’s vice-chancellor Bernard Odoh and the university registrar, Rosemary Nwokike.

A statement by Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy said the action by Tinubu follows allegations of procedural violations in the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor.

He also said that the council led by Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe and including five other members—Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin was accused of bypassing due process to appoint an unqualified candidate, prompting federal intervention.

Onanuga said, “The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process.

He added that following the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address the rivalry between the university’s Senate and the governing council of the institution.

“The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process”, Onanuga added.

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