TODAY IN HISTORY

• Nirvana Day, day Buddha died and achieved bliss

• 2021 - Nigeria

Ex- Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, was declared as the first female and first African leader of the World Trade Organisation. Since WTO establishment, a woman has never been leader of the international body that deals with global trade rules, resolves trade disputes between countries, and supports developing countries.

• 2020 - Nigeria

Nigerians are struck by fear after an African country, Egypt recorded its first case of coronavirus which began in Wuhan, China. According to Egypt’s ministry of health, the patient, who is a foreigner initially did not show any symptoms of being ill but he is currently being hospitalized and kept in isolation.

• 2017 - Nigeria

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti stormed office of the Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, to demand release of the state’s statutory allocation for January.

• 2016 - Nigeria

The embarrassing errors in the Budget claimed its first casualty as Pres. Buhari sacked the Director- General ( Budget), Mr. Yahaya Gusau. The President also approved the appointment of Mr. Tijjani Abdullahi to replace Gusau. Also, Ben Akabueze was appointed Special Adviser to the President on National Planning.

• 2012 - Nigeria

Attackers stormed a prison with heavy gunfire, killing one guard and freeing 119 inmates in KotonKarifi, Kogi.

• 2007 - USA

Robert Adler ( 93), co- inventor of the TV remote control, died He and Eugene Polley invented the remote in 1956.

• 1999 - Nigeria

Olusegun Obasanjo ( 61), who was recently released from prison, won nomination for president by People's Democratic Party.

• 1991 - S/ Africa

South Africa government and African National Congress announced an agreement on terms of ANC decision to suspend its struggle against apartheid

• 1564 - Italy

Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei ( d. 1642) was born. He was the first man to understand that mathematics can truly describe the physical world. He ran afoul of the Catholic Church for defending the Copernican system, which maintained that the earth revolves around the sun.

• 37 - Italy

Claudius Caesar Nero ( d. 68CE), emperor of Rome ( 54- 68), was born.